Educational Support

I.   DSWD - Funded Scholarship  

It is a grant provided and funded by the Department to support DSWD employees who want to pursue further academic studies to earn a postgraduate degree or complete a baccalaureate/ bachelor's degree.

Sub-categories:

1.    Completion of Baccalaureate/ Bachelor's Degree

This refers to the scholarship to be provided by DSWD to its personnel who wish to complete his/her Bachelor's degree course in a field that is deemed relevant to DSWD mandate, goals and objectives for a maximum of two (2) School Years, from date of effectivity of scholarship grant.

2.    Postgraduate Degree

This covers a monetary grant for a maximum of three (3) School Years, from date of scholarship effectivity, in pursuing a Graduate Certificate, Diploma Course, Master's or Doctoral Degree in a field that is deemed relevant to the DSWD mandates, goals and objectives

3.    Enrollment or Availment of the Leadership and Management Certification Program (CPro)

This refers to the support to be provided by the Department to its employees who aspire and have great potential in assuming a Division Chief position and/or equivalent Executive/Managerial position in the government. 

Nomination/s for CPro shall be based on the availability of funds of the Department.

4.    Alternative Delivery Modes of Education

This refers to tried and tested alternative modalities of education delivery within the confines of the formal system that allow schools/academes to deliver quality education. This may include, but is not limited to •the following: distance education, online courses, equivalency programs, and the like.

The applicable grant entitlement and corresponding terms and conditions will be based on the classification of the degree that will be earned after completion of the program course (i.e. Bachelor's or Masteral Degree).

II.   Externally-Sponsored Scholarship

Is a grant offered to DSWD by external institutions/ agencies/ sponsors either locally or abroad to support DSWD employees who want to pursue further academic studies by earning a postgraduate degree, diploma, certificates, and the like, or complete a baccalaureate/ bachelor's degree. 

Sub-categories:

    1.    Offered by Local Institutions

These are grants or financial assistance offered by other government and . private agencies or institutions in the Philippines to allow employees to pursue further academic studies such as but not limited to those offered by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP).

2.   Offered by Foreign Institutions

These are grants extended by educational institutions or organizations to DSWD employees to avail of academic courses or short term non-degree training, seminar, or courses to be held in a foreign country on official business.

Official Time

This is provided to employees who directly applied for or invited by a sponsoring organization for scholarship or foreign 12 trainings or short term courses directly related to DSWD mandate and/or functions of the Office and of the applicant. Salary, allowances and benefits mandated by law shall be provided subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Further, to ensure that work operations will not be adversely affected, an employee can only avail of this educational support once a year and only upon favorable recommendation of the head of Office/Bureau/ Service and Cluster Heads.

Fund Augmentation

Refers to financial assistance provided to employees who are completing their degree/ course, or thesis/ dissertation that are relevant to the Department's goals and mandate. Grant of such assistance will be subject to the unutilized funds of the overall educational program.

A. Matriculation Fee

Priority shall be given to qualified employees with salary grade 1 1 and below who may be provided with tuition fee not exceeding  Php 30,000.00 13 per School Year for a maximum of two (2) School Year, from the date of the effectivity of the grant

B. Thesis or Dissertation Preparation 

Thesis or dissertation aligned with the Department's goals/mandate can be financed under the educational program not exceeding Php 60,000 for a school year and shall be released according to the following schedule.

Other Educational Assistance 

Study Leave 

A time-off from work not exceeding six (6) months with pay for qualified officials and employees to help them prepare for their bar or board examinations or complete their master's degree

The study leave can be availed of continuously or on a staggered basis e.g. specific days in a week, due to the exigency of service. An employee can apply for study leave for several purposes but shall not exceed the allowable six months prescribed by the CSC.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 

An employee who wishes to avail of any educational support enumerated in this Order may apply provided he/she possesses the following qualifications and/or is able to provide/meet the applicable additional requirement/s to wit:

A. Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Must have rendered two (2) years' work experience in the Department as permanent, casual, contractual or coterminous, and must have   assumed  and performed current function for at least one (1) year at the time of application;

• Must have at least a Very Satisfactory performance rating   for the last two (2) rating periods,

• Must have No-pending administrative and criminal case at the time of application;

• Must have no current service obligation from previous scholarship or other educational assistance availed of, except for those who will be taking professional examinations for the first time;

• Must have no pending local or foreign scholarship/training applications;

• Must be willing to comply with the terms of the educational support and carry out responsibilities as scholar/ grantee, e.g. service obligation.

B. Additional Requirements

All applications for educational support shall be made in writing addressed to the PDC and accompanied by a letter of endorsement by the Head of Office and respective Cluster Head as per DSWD manual of delegation to ensure that office operations are not hampered.

For those applications that would entail that the applicant being endorsed will not be able to officially report to the office during the duration of the program course, in the event that the application was approved by the PDC and/or was favorably accepted by the inviting organization, a proposed work plan, indicating the arrangements to be made and duly conformed by (i) the applicant, (ii) identified successor or personnel that would take on the workload, and the (iii) Head of Office/Bureau/Service, shall also be submitted to the PDC.

B. 1. DSWD-Funded Scholarship

B. 1.1. For the completion of a Baccalaureate degree, the applicant must have finished at least two years or have earned 72 units[1]as   evidenced by a certification from the school/university.

B. 1.2. For those who will pursue CPro-RPL Track, a pre-qualifying result from the CSC must be submitted to HRDS/FO-HRMDD

B.2. Externally-Sponsored Scholarship

       Must meet the requirements indicated by the sponsoring organization, such as but not limited to:

B.2.1. Medical certificate stating that employee is physically fit to undertake the course,

B.2.2. Must undergo and pass any screening protocol/ requirement of the inviting sponsoring agency and the university/ school (e.g. qualifying examination, English proficiency, etc.);

B.3. Study Leave

B.3.1. Accomplished leave form as mandated by CSC;

      B.3.2. In preparation for professional licensure examinations or comprehensive examination

                    Any supporting document or proof of evidence that he/she is qualified and will take the scheduled comprehensive examination such as       a photocopy of the application to take professional licensure examination or copy of the examination or admission slip.

B.3.3. In the completion of academic requirements such as thesis or practicum

     Certified photocopy of school registration, copy of thesis proposal, or schedule of field practice/ practicum 

B.4. Official Time

B.4.1. Must submit a copy of acceptance letter from the inviting organization or the invitation letter from a sponsoring agency, organization or institution

       B.5. Fund Augmentation 

B.5.1. For augmentation of matriculation fee, supporting documents that will indicate applicant is currently enrolled such as registration form from the school and statement of account, etc.

B.5.2. For augmentation of thesis/ dissertation expenses, supporting documents that will indicate the applicant is enrolled and will be taking up or currently doing his/her thesis or dissertation such as registration form from the school, a copy of approved thesis/ dissertation proposal by his/her thesis adviser aligned to the Department's goals, mandate, thrusts and priorities.