CHEd, UPOU, and LGUs memorandum of agreement signing. From left: Mr. Edgardo B. Lumanog Jr., representing Bani, Pangasinan Mayor Marcelo E. Navarro; Chancellor Grace J. Alfonso; CHEd Executive Director Dr. William C. Medrano, representing CHEd Chair Romulo L. Neri; Mayor Dan N. Lim of Tagbilaran, Bohol; and Mayor Muslim G. Sema of Cotabato City

 

UPOU, CHEd, and LGUs Sign Agreement

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has recently tapped the UP Open University to pilot a project that will help constituents of local government units (LGUs) pursue formal degrees and nonformal courses to upgrade their capabilities in providing service to the public sector.

Dr. William C. Medrano, CHEd Executive Director, said that the project with the UPOU and the LGUs is the first of its kind for CHEd. Saying that it is the "first time for us to have the LGUs as partners," he added that, "this is in recognition of the important roles of the local government agencies in providing access to quality higher education in their municipalities." The CHEd has allotted P9M to the project: P3M to be used for establishing the testing center and for purchasing the necessary equipment; while P6M is to be used for scholarships of those who will enroll in the graduate degrees and nonformal courses of the UPOU.

The LGUs that are involved in the project are those of Bani, Pangasinan; Tagbilaran, Bohol; and Cotabato City. Under the auspices of the project, they will establish and provide a testing center for UPOU students within their localities.

Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso said that the Open University’s partnership with CHEd and the three LGUs is one of the ways by which the University will be able to fulfill its mission—to make quality higher and continuing education accessible to all, especially in areas in which UP does not have a campus.

The testing center in Bani has in fact started its operations last year, while those in Tagbilaran and Cotabato will formally open in June 2008. (Luisa A. Gelisan, OC)