MARAWI CITY—A total of 8,318 Bangsamoro learners under the Standard Madrasah Curriculum (SMC) received a one-time scholarship fund worth P3,000.00 each from the Bangsamoro Government’s education ministry, April 3.

The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) said these ‘qualified and needy’ beneficiaries were determined by school heads based on the selection criteria, following the issued Regional Memorandum (RM) No. 896-B, series of 2022.

Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal emphasized that said beneficiaries underwent validation and assessment.

"The Ministry exerts rigorous efforts to provide quality services and programs among all recognized Madrasah, both for its teachers and learners,” Iqbal said.

The education ministry also provided cash assistance to performing schools, including those which were devastated by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng last Oct. 29, 2022.

With a total of 468 identified performing schools, 178 schools received P50,000.00 while P25,000.00 and P20,000.00 were given to 106 and 184 schools, respectively.

Accordingly, the support provided will cover the costs of repairs and maintenance of public school facilities under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) Allotment Class with unit prices below P50,000.00 per Commission on Audit (COA) Circular 004-2022 dated May 31, 2022.

On top of this, a total of 210 schools that were 'badly affected' by STS Paeng received financial assistance worth P50,000.00, and P30,000.00. These schools were classified as 'severely and moderately affected'. (BIO with reports from MBHTE/PIA-10)