Senate bill hopes to end scholarship woes

A comprehensive measure overhauling the government scholarship program is being crafted by the Senate education committee in an effort to remedy perennial problem of funding shortfall, according to its chairman.

Sen. Richardo S. Atalig said his committee expects to endorse the proposal for passage before the end of November following months of review and research.

The proposal will consolidate all the different bills on scholarship pending in the upper house, including four sponsored by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, he said.

“We’re just discussing the different areas or loopholes so that we can accommodate the needs of our students at this time, even those in the future who will be applying for educational assistance,” Mr. Atalig told in an interview.

Although details of the proposal have not been disclosed, the Rota senator assured it will be extensive to include a student loan program that the Tenorio administration has been pushing amid financial difficulties confronting the CNMI.

He stressed the forthcoming legislation will “reform the current program” to provide much-needed assistance to students on and off island with available cash resources of the government.

The committee has been deliberating on various scholarship proposals since early this year. Separate legislation are also pending in the House of Representatives.

While either chamber has yet to pass any of the measures, both education committees in recent months have been conducting public hearings and meetings with government officials to guide them in formulating a new policy on financial aid and grants to students.

In a hearing called by Mr. Atalig last August, several officials as well as island residents urged lawmakers to draw up one comprehensive program addressing the needs of the students, especially during financial crisis when education takes a back seat to more pressing needs of the islands.

While lawmakers have insisted on placing priority to education, scholarship and grants given to students have not been spared from austerity measures implemented by the Tenorio administration in the last three years.

Mr. Atalig has vowed to include provision in the forthcoming legislation that will assure annual funding for the educational assistance of at least $3 million without threats of being cut in case of budget shortfall.

To address the funding dilemma, the administration has been favoring a student loan guarantee program that will reduce government subsidy while providing as much financial help to students.

Under the scheme, banks will extend the loans of as much as $60,000 for a four-year bachelor’s degree to students with the government as guarantor.

If a recipient returns to work in the CNMI, he or she can be given up to 100 percent forgiveness from paying the loan, according to the administration officials.