Pasig City - Education Secretary Jesli Lapus today called on qualified Muslim to apply for the third batch of scholars for a one-year Certificate in Teaching Arabic as a Second Language Program and School Administration at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
"The scholarship offered by Brunei`s Ministry of Education is consistent with our thrust to strengthen Madrasah education especially in the Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)," said Lapus.
The Madrasah education program provides Muslims with an Islamic-friendly educational curriculum and quality basic education comparable with the rest of the Filipino children.
Of the 16 grants up for grabs, six are allotted for DepEd ARMM where --- except for Maguindanao which gets two slots -- Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao are entitled to one opening each. Regions 9, 10, 11, 12 and the National Capital Region were given two slots each.
To date, the scholarship program has 15 successful graduates – six on the first batch and 9 on the second batch. The selection process for the third batch is timed for the opening of classes in Brunei in August 2008.
To qualify for scholarship, applicants must at least be high school graduate but preferably a college graduate of a Madrasah institution either here or abroad. Aside from high proficiency in Arabic language, an applicant must also have above average proficiency in English language. A minimum score of 6.5 in the British Council International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is another compulsory requirement.
Applicants may submit accomplished application forms to their respective DepEd regional offices and DepEd ARMM from May 12 to June 13, 2008.
Applicants screened at the school division and endorsed by the regional director/regional secretary DepEd ARMM shall take the IELTS to be administered by the British Council in Davao City on July 12, 2008.
A one-day conference before the examination date is offered to prepare the examinees for the IELTS. An examination fee of P8,640 and a conference fee of P2,200 per examinee shall be shouldered by the DepEd Central Office charged to Madrasah Funds. The examinees, however, shall be responsible for their travel and accommodation expenses to Davao City.
The maximum number of examinees per school division shall not be more than double the allocated slots for a total number of 32 but not to exceed 40 applicants.
The final list of 16 qualified applicants will be submitted to the Office of the Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs on or before July 12, 2008 for final approval.
Source: www.pia.gov.ph (22 Mei 2008)
