Indigenous people scholars study at MSU extension in Sarangani

By COCOY SEXCION

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 4, 2011) – A special tertiary extension program of the provincial government for its indigenous people (IP) is now on its third year of operation and would soon have its own campus.

This was disclosed by officials during the general orientation program of 119 IP scholars attended by provincial, municipal and barangay officials with partners and parents Wednesday (August 3) at Malandag gymnasium.

“Today, I would like to welcome the people behind the fortune given to us freely, the fortune that we should value as we know that it is only through good education that we can become a better person,” said Professor Thelma Pagunsan, dean of the College of Education, Mindanao State University Gensan, in her welcome address.

Last 2009, the provincial government partnered with MSU in providing college education, particularly Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEEd), to IP students through scholarship in the Tertiary Education Extension Service, a component program of Paaral para sa Sarangan (PPSS).

PPSS is the provincial government’s scholarship program for poor but deserving Sarangan students who pursue technical, vocational or baccalaureate courses.

This extension program should not only be limited to first, second and third batches but it should be a lifetime program, Governor Migs Dominguez said in his message during the program.

He also appealed to Department of Education officials that all who will graduate in this program should automatically be hired as teachers with national item positions.

“I hope you will be the example and inspiration when you finish college so that the following batch of students will realize that poverty is not a hindrance in fulfilling your dreams,” the governor challenged the scholars.

For the first batch of 47, only 30 students remained and made it to the third year level while the second batch of 54, only 31 made it to second year level. The third batch enrolled last June is 58 with four none-IPs, based on the data provided by PPSS project coordinator Glenda Revano.

In the past two years, classes were held in the open stage and teachers’ conference room of Malandag Central Elementary School during Wednesdays. And for the lack of classrooms, Barangay Captain Delia Constantino lent the Barangay Nutrition Center as a temporary classroom for the third batch.

“I will always be your mayor and I will always apply my 10 secrets of governance which are hardwork, hardwork and more hardwork just for you,” Mayor Reynaldo Constantino said in his inspirational message.

There is already a plan in putting up a permanent campus of MSU in Malandag, he said. With the help of Congressman Manny Pacquiao and Governor Migs Dominguez, MSU campus will be established, Constantino assured. The land acquisition for the school campus will be the counterpart of the municipality for the realization of the project, he added.

“The MOA of this program is seven years. A student may finish his program in only five years. Attendance is a requirement in order to get a passing mark. Students should pass all the examinations administered by the professors of different courses,” said Professor Alicia Pulido, MSU project director.

Aside from BSEEd, MSU Gensan Chancellor Abdurrahman Canacan bared that MSU will also soon be offering Bachelor of Science in Agriculture for its extension school in Malandag.

Board Member Abdulracman Pangolima, Governor Dominguez, Board Member Virgilio Clark Tobias, Board Member Eleanor Saguiguit and Board Member Hermie Galzote turned over seven brand new computer sets to the MSU officials in support of the special tertiary extension program for IPs of the province. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)