NMC students protest gov’t ‘neglect’

Students of the financially troubled Northern Marianas College yesterday trooped to the Office of the Governor to protest what they described was the CNMI government’s neglect to provide the needed funding for the scholarship program.

More than 50 students participated in the motorcade rally that began from the NMC campus to Capitol Hill. Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and Rep. Heinz Hofschneider held a dialogue with the angry students that lasted for almost two hours.

Shirley Santos, president of the Associated Students of NMC, said the number of drop outs has been increasing after they were informed by school officials that the College has not received the scholarship funding for the Spring semester.

She said some students are now paying the tuition out of their own pockets but many opted not to enroll since NMC officials told them that they would have to produce the money in 30 days.

A visibly irked Tenorio explained to the students that they were misinformed by NMC officials who told them that the administration is not doing anything to help them amid the financial crisis besetting the CNMI government.

In fact, the governor said he funneled some $575,000 to NMC for the scholarship program which was meant for the medical referral program last year. “I hate to see students drop out in the middle of the semester because there is no money so I took the initiative and sacrificed the medical referral program to give the money to you,” said Tenorio.

When he gave the money to NMC, the governor said he made it clear to NMC officials that they have to do something to resolve their financial problem because he cannot continue juggling funds at the expense of the Commonwealth Health Center and Public School System.

“Please understand that we are doing our best to see that you students benefit from the scholarship program. It pains us to see you people here,” the chief executive said. With limited resources due to shrinking revenue, he assured the students that the administration and the Legislature have been working together to accommodate the request of various agencies including NMC.

Although 50 percent of the students included in the list of those eligible for the educational grant were not supposed to get a full scholarship, the governor said NMC still billed the administration the full amount.

“There is no reason why the College won’t allow you to go on. You should not be denied your education because we are appropriating money to the College,” said Rep. Heinz Hofschneider.

NMC received some $9 million in appropriation for this fiscal year.

According to Hofschneider, the cost of education in NMC has become too expensive compared to the Universities in the U.S. mainland or Hawaii where the cost of tuition per unit is only between $25 to $30.

“So even if we give you $4,000 if the NMC raises its fees, you will still not be able to afford it,” he said.

Hofschneider, who heads the health, education and welfare committee, said he will call for an oversight hearing next week to clarify the mismanagement of funds in the College.

“We don’t want to see your parents, brothers or sisters or friends lose their jobs in government just so we can fund NMC. It is painful enough that we are suffering because of the economic problems, but let us not use that as a defense for not living up to what you students are expecting to get,” he added.

Antonette Reyes, a second-year business management student, said the scholarship grant is not even enough to pay for the high cost of education in NMC. For example, a computer class cost $75 aside from the $65 cost per credit. The $1,200 scholarship grant which the student gets is not enough as many of them have to attend three computer classes and pay an additional $50 dollars for technology fee.

Reyes said the students are simply tired of being passed around when they ask for an explanation on the scholarship money. She said the students must get all the information so that they would know who to blame for mess.

During the meeting, the students also protested what they claimed was the unfair treatment they were getting as opposed to off-island scholars who get higher amount and are not even made to account for their expenses.

But Tenorio and Hofschneider explained that these students are given such amount in consideration of the fact that they have to pay for their board and lodging . At the same time, they have to carry a minimum of 12 credits, otherwise, they immediately lose their scholarship.

Hofschneider denied that students here are treated unfairly because NMC is funded by the government which pays for the salaries of professors and staff.