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NMC scholars at risk of losing funding
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Posted on Dec 09 1998
The eligibility of high school students for the Educational Assistance Grant has come under review by the Department of Finance.
The issue emerged after the Northern Marianas College sought to charge against the EAG school fees of several students. By definition, the grant is restricted to be dispensed only to post-secondary students.
Hilaria K. Santos, director of the CNMI Scholarship Office, informed NMC that names of high school students seeking the grant have been temporarily dropped until after the Attorney General’s Office settles the matter.
Grant applicants include those under the 2+2 program and those enrolled at the Northern Marianas Academy. They are taking courses at NMC and have had received the grant.
Since they have yet to finish their high school, questions were raised on their eligibility to receive the grant.
Some though have taken advanced college courses.
Take Gape Asper, a high school senior at NMA.
“I don’t consider myself as a high school student because I’ve been taking courses at the college,” he told Saipan Tribune.
Since his first year at NMA, he had been taking courses at the college. Same with his classmates.
“It started since 1995 and a number (of recipients) have graduated already. It’s something they should add on rather than subtract . . . from NMC,” he said.
High school students who have signed up for courses at the college are considered early admissions, said Melody Actouka of NMC’s Continuing Education, which coordinates the 2+2 program with the Public School System.
Early admissions observe rigid requirements and modelled from the National Post Secondary policy, which allows high school students to enroll in college courses.
