Twenty-seven high school graduates from the Energy Development Corp.’s areas in the rural uplands dreamt of becoming scientists, teachers and accountants. This dream will soon become a reality after passing the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).
For this, they have EDC to thank for not only giving them scholarship grants to finish high school but also for helping them prepare for this challenging entrance examination in one of the country’s best universities through its College Admission, Review & Readiness Project.
A joint project of EDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Partnerships Departments with partner high schools in its geothermal sites in Bicol, Leyte, Mindanao, Northern and Southern Negros, CAREERS primes 30 top graduating students from each site and bridges them to education in prestigious universities and colleges through six phases. Its goal is to help the top-performing students make the most of their potential, which are otherwise neglected due to poor opportunities in rural communities. Now on its third year, EDC had 154 beneficiary students in its pilot year and 158 students in its second year for this project.
Although college opportunities are rare for rural public high school graduates, these students have been proven to have equal potential as those who are better advantaged. With inherent abilities and interest in Math, Science and English, not only did they qualify into the University of the Philippines, but also into courses that have higher admission competition.
The 27 students are now enrolled in different science, education, accountancy and management programs in six of the UP campuses.
“There are a lot of untapped talents in the barrios. It’s a shame if those would only go to waste because of lack of opportunities,” said Reinero Medrano, EDC’s CSRD Manager who led this pioneering initiative.
Part of the program is linking its beneficiaries to scholarships and financial aid opportunities, such as UP’s Socialized Tuition & Financial Assistance Program for full tuition subsidy. For their equity, the 27 college students will only pay a P300 student fee and contribute to their fare to UP. The CAREERS Project provides minimal financial support as part of their daily living expenses.
The Project is anticipating more successful UPCAT qualifiers from its third batch of top students this year as it is currently facilitating their summer review classes and UPCAT applications.
Once uncertain about their own abilities and future, these 27 UP students are now poised to become catalysts of positive change in their families and communities. (PR)
