Five members of the Goducate Orchestra have been offered scholarships to college on the strength of their musical ability. Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) has offered to pay all their tuition fees. In return, the students will have to play in LSPU’s brass band and help develop it into a school orchestra. They will be taking Education as their main subject, which will qualify them to teach in secondary schools.
Goducate will pay for the students’ “miscellaneous” fees, which will cover items such as contributions to the school development fund, utilities bills, computer and internet fees. The students will be able to earn some allowances when the school band is asked to play for functions.
Three of the five students had dropped out of college for 1-2 years because of financial difficulties. The Goducate music program had started as a means of attracting out-of-school youth back into education through the Department of Education Alternative Learning System, which enables students to study at home at their own pace. Goducate is delighted that the program has enabled some of them to get back into formal education through music scholarships.
Goducate does not believe in charitable handouts. Hence the students will have to “earn” their miscellaneous fees by spending 2-3 h a week giving lessons to others in the Goducate music program.