Aurora college, AFP ink free education deal for former rebels

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 7, 2022): Aurora college, AFP ink free education deal for former rebels (By Jason De Asis)

FREE EDUCATION. Officials of the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion and the Lyceum of the East-Aurora (LEA) signed a memorandum of partnership for scholarship grants to recognized former rebels and their dependents who wish to earn an education in Barangay Florida, Maria Aurora, Aurora on Wednesday (July 6, 2022). The move is part of the commitment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist former rebels as they return to mainstream society. (PNA photo by Jason de Asis)

Former rebels and their dependents now have an opportunity to attain education for free.

This as the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) and the Lyceum of the East-Aurora (LEA) signed a memorandum of partnership to provide educational scholarships to recognized former rebels and their dependents who wish to earn an education.

“This is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP’s) commitment in assisting our former rebels as they returned to mainstream society as we want them to live normally and productive in the community where they choose to settle,” Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto, battalion commander of 91IB, said in an interview on Thursday.

Likewise, Recto said soldiers’ dependents as well as members and the dependents of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) will also be assisted to finish their studies as agreed upon.

“Similarly, the partnership will also assist our CAFGUs, even our soldiers and their dependents who wish to go to school but could not make it due to financial constraints,” he said.

Under the agreement, recognized former rebels and their dependents and siblings can have a full discount on miscellaneous and other school fees; free tuition fees, and a 75 percent discount on miscellaneous fees for CAFGU personnel and their dependents and siblings; free tuition fees and 50 percent discount on miscellaneous fees for active personnel of 91IB and their dependents and siblings; free tuition fees for other student-grantees not included in the above but coming from the area of operations of the 91IB.

“I am very thankful for the partnership to which we can help our scholars to have access in LEA as this is part of our mission to provide relevant, innovative, and accessible quality education for them. Lyceum is here to provide quality education, an opportunity for our scholars to earn an education,” Recto said.

Engr. Jaime S. Gose, president of LEA, said Lyceum is continuously doing its part to give scholarship grants since the school is now gradually etching a name of its own in the field of education in Aurora.

“We will continue to maintain a high degree of educational standards and will ensure that our scholars enrolled under the program are provided the best instructional and school facilities. We will give our scholars the opportunity to reach and complete their higher education in order to have a brighter future,” Gose said.

There are also technical-vocational training programs accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and junior and senior high school programs through the Department of Education.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178468