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NMC board chief tries to calm restive students
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Posted on Jan 26 1999
Students of the Northern Marianas College need not worry that they won’t be able to enroll this spring semester because the Legislature has already made the funds available for the scholarship program.
In a memorandum to all students receiving financial assistance, NMC Board of Regents vice-chairman Ramon S. Villagomez told students that the Saipan and Northern Islands Local Delegation have appropriated some $488,000 to help the students.
Villagomez said the information was relayed by Rep. Heinz Hofschneider who heads the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare. Since the money will only cover the College students on Saipan while possible funding is still being identified for the students on Tinian and Rota.
At the same time, he assured students that Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and the scholarship program would like to provide adequate financial assistance but the government simply does not have the needed funds.
As a result of the quick response of the Legislature, Villagomez asked the students to show sincere appreciation to the lawmakers for sacrificing certain local government projects just to accommodate their request.
Some 50 students held a motorcade rally to Capitol Hill last week after they were told that there was no money available for the students assistance program forcing many of them to drop out of school.
Tenorio, however, said education is one of the priority areas of his administration as he asked for their understanding amid the financial difficulties facing the government. Last year, the governor said he funneled some $575,000 to NMC for the fall semester which was meant for the medical referral program.
Hofschneider has scheduled an oversight hearing on Thursday to find out what ails the island’s educational institution. The lawmaker has criticized the high cost of education in NMC and the financial mismanagement of the college officials.
