Scholarship bill for poor nursing students passes Senate’s committee level
A BILL providing scholarships to deserving nursing students and a return service program, on top of their mandatory internship program, filed by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has been given the green light at the committee level in the Senate.
“Para sa mga nagnanais na makapagtapos ng kursong nursing ngunit wala silang pangtustos, ito na ang magiging kasagutan sa kanilang alalahanin sa gastusin.
Kapalit ng scholarship grant ang paninilbihan nila sa kanilang pinagmulang bayan o probinsya,” Estrada said, referring to his Senate Bill No. 2342, or the proposed “Nars Para Sa Bayan Act.”
Estrada welcomed the move of Sen. Francis Escudero, Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education chairperson, who approved in principle SB 2342 during Monday’s committee hearing.
The proposed Nursing Scholarship and Return Service Program (NSRS) provides financial assistance to deserving students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or partner private higher education institutions (HEIs) in regions where there are no SUCs offering nursing courses. The program covers practically all expenses incurred by the student beneficiary during enrollment.
The NSRS will cover various expenses related to nursing education, including tuition, school fees, book and supply allowances, uniform fees, dormitory and transportation expenses.
Additionally, the NSRS will provide financial assistance for nursing board review fees, licensure fees, and internship fees, as well as annual medical insurance and other miscellaneous education-related living expenses.
Students enrolled in the nursing course must carry a full load of subjects every semester and complete the program within the designated time frame set by the SUC or the PHEI.
Additionally, they are required to take the board examination one year after finishing the mandatory internship program and fulfill the return service as indicated in the proposed measure.
Upon passing the Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the scholar shall serve in a government public health office, hospital, or any accredited government health facility in his or her hometown or in an underserved municipality close to his or her hometown.
The student who avails a scholarship must complete the return service work within three years from the time of passing the NLE. Failure to comply with this condition would result in the refund of the full scholarship and other benefits, which would be twice its cost, Estrada said.
