The new normal has changed the educational landscape in the country, giving way to the implementation of remote and online learning. This meant students and their families had to adjust to the challenges that came with the sudden shift including the costly internet setup, connectivity issues, availability of gadgets for online learning, and more.
The Philippine Institute for Development Studies found out that only 1 percent of the poor, 6 percent of the low-income, and 27 percent of the lower middle-income households have computers to keep up with the new learning setup.
This is further aggravated by the quarantine measures and lockdowns that have impacted the employment and businesses in the country. The unemployment rate in April 2020 was 17.7 percent, and 10 percent in July 2020, mostly affecting the informal sector, minimum wage earners, and workers in a no-work, no-pay arrangement.
Despite these socioeconomic obstacles, education remains a priority for learners and their families across the nation. Several educational institutions, including STI, extend help to enable senior high school and college students to continue their studies unhindered amidst the present circumstances, move up, and ultimately, reach their potential to be future-ready.
With STI’s commitment in providing real life education to the next generation of achievers, STI ensures that quality education is within the youth’s reach through its various financial aid and scholarship programs.
STI Open Scholarship Program
The STI Open Scholarship program provides partial and full scholarships to academically deserving students in accordance with its mission to develop and nurture students to become competent and responsible members of the society. It involves a two-hour browser-based standardized assessment tool that is composed of Science, Math, English, and Abstract Reasoning.
Incoming senior high school and college students may apply online at https://openscholarship.sti.edu
GSIS and Pag-IBIG Educational Assistance Programs
Incoming senior high school and college students and transferees this school year 2021-2022 are eligible for the GSIS and Pag-IBIG Educational Assistance Programs in STI.
STI has a long withstanding partnership with the two major government institutions to extend educational support to the GSIS and PAG-IBIG members and their dependents.
GSIS and PAG-IBIG members and their qualified dependents will get 20% scholarship grant on tuition fees in any STI campus nationwide by only presenting the GSIS UMID or PAG-IBIG Loyalty or Loyalty Plus card.
The GSIS and PAG-IBIG Educational Assistance Programs are renewable every semester or annually as long as the retention policies and conditions are met.
Interested applicants may view the complete terms and conditions, and application requirements for the GSIS and Pag-IBIG by visiting: https://bit.ly/STI-GSIS-PAGIBIGGRANTS, or inquiring at their preferred STI campus.
Government Subsidy and Voucher Programs
STI accepts the following grants and voucher holders from the Department of Education (DepEd), Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), and Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) in all campuses nationwide:
● DepEd Senior High School Voucher Program
● PEAC Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Grants
● Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)
“Through these programs, we aim to extend our assistance to our students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and their families by subsidizing tuition fees and providing scholarship grants. Hopefully, through this initiative, we encourage and empower them to pursue their studies despite these trying times and to see the value of education in unlocking more opportunities in the future,” said Aisa Q. Hipolito, STI VP for Academics.
For the complete list of STI’s various financial and scholarship programs, visit financialaid.sti.edu.
