Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 4090)
The purpose of Republic Act No. 4090 is to provide state scholarships in science, arts, and letters for poor but deserving students, create a State Scholarship Council to manage scholarship programs, and appropriate funds for these scholarships.
Eligible candidates must be among the first ten of their graduating class in public or private high schools, show special giftedness in chosen fields, have no financial resources for higher education, be of good health and moral character, be natural-born Filipino citizens, and be no more than 21 years old at the time of selection.
State scholarships cover tuition, matriculation, other school fees, prescribed textbooks and equipment, board and lodging, clothing, traveling expenses, and miscellaneous allowances.
The Council is composed of the Secretary of Education (Chairman), the President of the University of the Philippines, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Education, Chairman of the National Science Development Board, Directors of Public and Private Schools, and two representatives from non-governmental educational professional groups appointed by the President with Commission on Appointments' consent.
The Council is empowered to consolidate, integrate, administer, and implement scholarship programs, prescribe selection criteria, determine the number of scholars, select qualified colleges, approve candidates and expenses, seek external assistance, assist graduates in employment, employ staff, and issue necessary rules and regulations.
The Executive Secretary is appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the Council's recommendation and with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. The Executive Secretary carries out the provisions of the Act and the Council's policies and decisions and receives a yearly compensation not exceeding ten thousand pesos.
Yes, members who are public officials receive no additional compensation, while private citizen members receive twenty-five pesos for each meeting attended, with a cap of two meetings per month.
All existing government scholarship programs and their related resources are transferred to and placed under the jurisdiction and control of the State Scholarship Council.
An initial appropriation of two million pesos annually was provided starting fiscal year 1964, with additional sums to be included in the yearly General Appropriation Acts.
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 19, 1964.