Application for Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and Their Families (CoScho)

Filipino coconut farmers and their dependents have the opportunity to gain higher education through the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and Their Families (CoScho) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Based on R.A. 11524 or “The Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act,” CoScho is available to coconut farmers who are registered under the National Coconut Farmers Registry System (NCFRS). The program covers Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness Management, and other courses identified by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).  

Scholarship Program Coconut Farmers Families CoScho
Image Credit: Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Philippine Coconut Authority / Facebook (CHED, PCA logos)

Program Benefits

The CoScho program provides the following benefits to each scholar:

  • Stipend. This covers food, transportation, educational tours, medical insurance, Internet use, communication, and smaller projects. The amount is PHP 70,000 per school year or PHP 35,000 per semester.
  • Book Allowance. Amounting to PHP 10,000 per school year or PHP 5,000 per semester, this includes book allowance and other learning materials.
  • Thesis and/or OJT Allowance. This amounts to PHP 75,000 per academic year.
  • Local Conference Attendance. This amounts to PHP 10,000 per academic year. The conference must be related to the undergraduate program, to be given when the scholar reaches junior or senior standing. The activity must not be in the same Higher Education Institution (HEI) where the scholar is enrolled.
  • Laptop Financial Assistance. This is a one-time financial assistance worth PHP 30,000 for the purchase of a laptop computer, to be given during the first year of the scholarship grant.

Return Service

Upon graduation, scholars are required to work in the Philippines for a period of one (1) year per year of scholarship. For example, if a student benefited from the scholarship for four years, he/she shall work in the country for four years, too — be it in a government agency or a private entity directly related to the Philippine coconut industry.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the CoScho program, an applicant must:

  • Be a Filipino citizen,
  • Be a graduating high school student/high school graduate with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% or its equivalent, OR a college student with earned academic units relevant to the degree programs identified by the PCA, with a GWA of 80% or its equivalent in the previous semester;
  • Pass the entry-level requirements of identified State Universities and Colleges (SUCs);
  • Not be a recipient of any government-funded financial assistance program;
  • Be a duly registered coconut farmer in the NCFRS or his/her dependent; and
  • Have parents whose combined annual gross income does not exceed PHP 300,000.

Requirements

To apply for the program, applicants need to prepare:

  • Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or the Local Civil Registry;
  • Academic Records: (a) For senior high school students, duly certified copy of the grades for Grade 11 and first semester for Grade 12; (b) For senior high school graduates, Form 138; OR (c) For applicants who are currently enrolled in college – duly certified copy of grades for the latest semester/term attended;
  • PCA Certification issued by PCA Regional Office (PCA-RO) to NCFRS-registered coconut farmers/farmworkers upon endorsement of the PCA Provincial Office and/or Local Coconut Industry Development Councils (LCIDCs), small coconut farmer organizations, federations, and cooperatives;
  • Certificate of Good Moral Character from the last school attended;
  • Any of the following Proof of Income: (a) Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of applicant and spouse/parents/guardians if employed; (b) Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); (c) Certificate of No Income from BIR; (d) Certificate of Indigency from Barangay; OR (e) Certificate/Case Study from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
  • Notice of Admission from the HEI with college degree offerings;
  • Proof that the student applicant belonged to a special group/s (if applicable); and
  • Original Barangay Certification that parents/guardians and siblings had never attended college/university (if applicable).

NOTE: Only one family member is allowed to apply for the scholarship.

Infographic

Scholarship Program Coconut Farmers Families CoScho

Application Process

Here is an overview of the application process for the CoScho program:

  1. The student submits an application to the CHED Regional Office.
  2. The CHED Regional Office accepts and evaluates the applications, before ranking qualified applicants.
  3. The Office of Student Development and Services (OSDS) validates the rank list, approves the list of qualified beneficiaries, and issues the corresponding award numbers.

For more information about the program, visit the CHED official website or contact the nearest CHED Regional Office.

By providing college scholarships, the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and Their Families or CoScho aims to inspire the younger generation to be engaged in the country’s agriculture sector. It benefits not only coconut farmers and their families, but the Philippine economy as a whole.

Meanwhile, another scholarship opportunity for Filipino workers, specifically seafarers, is the Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP). Check out this link to read all about this program.

error: Content is protected !!