DSWD Extends Educational Aid to Over 40,000 Students

As the lead agency in social protection, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) places emphasis in ensuring that indigent and underprivileged children and youth avail of opportunities to go to school.

One form of intervention being provided by the Department is through the provision of educational assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS). This is part of DSWD’s effort to provide immediate services to people who are in crisis or emergency situations.

The educational assistance helps defray the school expenses and the cost of sending children to school, such as school tuition fees, school supplies, transportation allowance, and other school-related expenses.

The program has assisted 42,363 children for the first quarter of 2015.

“With school opening scheduled for next month, we are fast-tracking our assistance to needy children and youth to enable them to enroll, since we have always believed that education is the key in lifting themselves and their families out of poverty.

“However, this is limited financial assistance designed to augment the poor students’ immediate needs especially if the family is presently in crisis and is unable to raise the needed amount to continue sending their children to school,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Julian-Soliman emphasized.

The amount of assistance that can be extended to clients ranges from P3,000 to P 25,000, based on the assessment of the social worker.

To avail of educational assistance, the client has to go through the screening process wherein he or she has to submit the appropriate documents to the social worker, who will in turn conduct the interview and assessment and recommend the release of assistance.

Clients can avail of assistance once every three months. However, for clients who have been previously assisted, a social case study report might be required by the social worker. The case study report will establish whether the client is still in crisis or not.

Those seeking educational assistance should present the following requirements: enrollment assessment form or certificate of registration, school ID of the student/beneficiary, barangay certificate of residency/indigency and any valid ID of the client, and referral letter, if applicable.

Applicants may go to any Social Welfare and Development Satellite Office, an extension unit of the DSWD which serves as an action center at the provincial level that immediately responds to cases of individuals and families in crisis situations.

A social case study report prepared by the LGU social worker/medical social worker, or a social case summary prepared by a registered social worker is required by the CIU to support assessment and recommendation of assistance.

Source: www.dswd.gov.ph