A Catholic university in Tuguegarao City has stepped up its efforts to help students cope with the demands of distance learning by providing financial aid that will allow benefactors to buy laptops without interest.
Through its laptop facility program, the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao aims to help at least 20 students facing financial difficulties to get laptops to support their online classes. The program was launched on Monday, February 1. (WATCH: #PisoParaSaLaptop campaign brings gadgets to students in need)
“We will give the beneficiaries vouchers that need to be presented to our partner-supplier once they claim their laptops,” University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao President Fr Neil Sta. Ana said in an interview.
“They will pay the price of the laptop, without interest, to the university on an installment basis, until they can afford to pay the entire amount,” Sta Ana added.
The funds that will be collected from the project’s first installment will be used as a revolving fund that will help another batch of students in need of laptops for online learning. (READ: #WalangIwanan: College students face challenges, delays during pandemic)
“The revolving fund is very limited but we hope to increase the number of recipients in the future,” he said.
Interested students are given until Friday, February 5 to apply for the said program. Applications will undergo screening and deliberation procedures before the expected release of the list of beneficiaries on February 18, 2021.
The university has been providing ways to support its students throughout its shift to distance learning. In September 2020, the university launched the Luisyanong Alagad ni Kristo sa Asal at Diwa (LAKAD) Tayo Facebook live sessions, where students received prepaid load and WIFI kits by answering trivia questions.
Students of the same university also initiated Project Walang Iwanan, a campaign providing prepaid load credits to students in need of internet connection for their online classes in June 2020.
The project raised over P65,000 and helped at least 200 students for the first semester of SY 2020-2021.
Months before the nationwide resumption of classes, many Filipino students sought help on social media through the #PisoParaSaLaptop campaign to raise funds for gadgets. Others continue to find means to support their education. – Rappler.com