DepEd hikes funding of students in private schools

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has increased its

subsidy for students covered by the Government Assistance for Students and
Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) outside Metro Manila.

"Our mandate is to provide every Filipino child with access to quality education.
The decision to increase the tuition subsidy under the Education Service
Contracting (ESC) is part of our continuing thrust to democratize access to
quality education across the country," Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.

From the P6,500 subsidy last year, DepEd has increased it to P7,500 per
student per year in participating schools outside Metro Manila this school year
2014-2015.

ESC is a scheme under the GASTPE wherein the government subsidizes the
tuition fee of students who want to pursue secondary schooling in private
schools. It is jointly implemented by DepEd and the Fund for Assistance to
Private Education (FAPE).

DepEd has increased the number of slots available for students to give them
further opportunities.

DepEd, through the ESC, will subsidize almost a million students from Grades 7
to 10 for school year 2014-2015. The Department covered more than 800,000
students under ESC last year.

ESC is a demonstration of the governments commitment to maintain the

viability of private education as a key partner in the delivery of quality basic
education to the Filipino learners, Luistro said.

He added that DepEd recognizes the complementary role of private schools in

delivering education to the Filipinos.
PUP expels ROTC cadet officers for 'hazing'
MANILA, Philippines The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)
dismissed two cadet officers under the Reserved Officers' Training Course
(ROTC) due to allegations of hazing.

The PUP Public Information Office reported that university vice president Juan
Birion decided to expel cadet officers Daniel Tuico and Liezl Ariston based on
the recommendation of the university's disciplinary board.

The hazing victim identified only as Sheena presented a medical certificate and
photos of her injuries and bruises allegedly inflicted by the ROTC cadet officers.

Sheena said she was beaten up as a punishment for failing to attend an

applicants' briefing night.

According to PUP rules, the dismissed students can still appeal their case to
university president Emanuel de Guzman.

UST moves opening of classes to July

MANILA, Philippines - The University of Santo Tomas (UST) is moving its classes
to July next academic year in preparation for the integration of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations in 2015, it secretary-general announced.

The start of regular classes will now fall on July 14. The first semester will end
by November with the final exam in the week of Nov. 17. The semestral break
will last until Jan. 5, when the second semester starts.

UST Secretary General Fr. Winston Cabading said the university will still hold
the traditional Paskuhan festivities on Dec. 8, the Feast of Immaculate
Conception.

Preliminary examinations for non-graduating students will be on Mar. 6, while

the finals will be on May 15. For graduating students, the final examinations will
begin on April 20. The baccalaureate mass is scheduled on May 15, while the
solemn investiture activities is on May 26.

Classes will are suspended on Holy Thursday (April 2), Good Friday (April 3),
Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9) and Labor Day (May 1).

A third term replacing summer classes will start on June 3. Preliminaries for this
short term will begin on June 17 while the finals will be on July 7.

There will be 104 school days for the first semester from July to November, and
another 104 for the second semester that will run January to May.
UP Diliman to start classes in August
MANILA, Philippines - The University Council of the University of the Philippines
(UP) Diliman approved on Monday the proposal to move the start of the
academic calendar from June to August.

"Today, the UP Diliman University Council (composed of all assistant professor

to full professors) by a vote of 284-164 decided to support the shift in the
academic calendar of UP Diliman from June to August 2014. Chancellor Michael
Tan will now bring this sentiment to the next UP Board of Regents meeting on
March 28 for approval. With this development, all UP constituent units will start
the school year in August 2014," the university announced in its Facebook
page.

The decision to approve the proposal came amid protest from some students
and professors. Issues raised include conflicts with internship programs, board
and bar exams, and conducting classes during the summer months.

Earlier, a consultation was conducted among students and organizations in UP's

flagship campus, and 1,834 out of 2,728 students said they approve of the
calendar shift. A faculty referendum was also conducted, and 647 of the 954
regular faculty members who voted agreed with the shift.

The decision comes after the UP Board of Regents, the highest policy-making
body in the university system, approved the implementation of the calendar
change in all constituent universities of UP except Diliman. The decision was
left to UP Diliman's University Council.

The shift in the academic calendar was proposed to synchronize UP's calendar
with that of other universities from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Makati allots P2-B for public schools

MANILA, Philippines - The city government of Makati on Friday said it has
alloted P2 billion for public education services in the city out of its P11.7-billion
executive budget for this year.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the bulk of this years budget for
education of around P1.3 billion, has been earmarked for expenditures in the
preschool to junior high school levels.

Meanwhile, the city has alloted P22.3 million for the University of Makatis
(UMak) various programs and activities. Almost P8.9 million will be spent for
youth and sports development, with P3.6 million to fund the citys college
scholarship programs at the University of the Philippines and the Philippine
Normal University.

Binay said the P2-billion budget does not include the budget for K to 12 Senior
High School Program at UMak, estimated at around P23 million, as it is being
funded under the Special Projects of the Office of the Mayor. Just like students
in the lower levels, Grades 11 and 12 students are also provided free school
supplies and uniforms by the city government.

Of its P1.3-billion budget for the preschool to secondary levels, P520 million will
be spent for the purchase of textbooks, school supplies, bags, t-shirts, and
uniforms that will be distributed for free to all enrollees when classes open in
June.

The rest are distributed as follows: P419 million for the building facilities
development and maintenance program; P57 million for information
communication & technology program; P69 million for Acquisition of Complete
Quality and Instructional Resources, P42 million for assessment and enrichment
program; P17 million for instructional facilities development program, P14
million for health program, P5 million for Talent Optimization Program for
Students; P1.2 million for Special Education Program; P7 million for Teachers
Effectiveness and Competence Honing program; P1.1 million for Mathematical
Challenge for Makati Kids Training Program/Robotics; P9 million for leadership
training and sports development program for students; P1.2 million for
exchange program/Lakbay Aral; and P1 million for Alternative Learning System.

At present, Makati has 28 public elementary schools, 10 public high schools,

and a city-run university. Recently, Binay led the inauguration of the new 10-
storey Makati Science building along Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Cembo and
four-storey Comembo and Pembo Elementary School Extensions.