Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim with Minister of Education Mohagher Iqbal lead the Bangsamoro Access to Higher and Modern Education (AHME-SP) Scholarship Program 1st cohort graduation of 1,400 scholars held at the Sharrif Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) inside the Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City on April 18,2024. (Benyamen Cabuntalan/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—A total of 1,400 recipients of the Bangsamoro Access to Higher and Modern Education Scholarship Program (AHME-SP) completed their academic journey with the first cohort graduation ceremony on April 18, 2024.
Led by the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), the ceremony held here at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC), inside the Bangsamoro Government Center in this city, served as a testament to the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to its vision of ‘One Professional for Every Family.’
“This event is a testament to our mission of producing Bangsamoro Professionals from all areas of the autonomous region for jobs and business, while also improving your access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities,” BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said.
CM Ebrahim commended the scholars for their resilience, thirst for knowledge, and potential to enact positive societal change.
“Today, it gives me great honor and pride that one of the many by-products of our Jihad came to fruition, as we will produce 1,400 new Bangsamoro professionals,” he added.
The AHME-SP is open to qualified high school and ALS graduates, offering a four- or five-year college curriculum. It prioritizes individuals from conflict-affected backgrounds and provides financial support of P60,000.00 per academic year.
In his message, MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal urges the recipients to become catalysts of change.
“To our distinguished AHME recipients, as you step into the next chapter of your lives, remember that your education is a beacon of hope and a tool for change,” said Iqbal.
“You have a responsibility to help our Bangsamoro communities and our people. Our people have suffered much under the pestilence of war and conflict, and we have lost so much – our communities are poor and underdeveloped. We need to change this,” he added.
The education minister continued that the Government of the Day is committed to creating opportunities for youth to access quality education, empowering them to contribute to the growth and development of the Bangsamoro region.
Catherine Joycee Arandia, one of the scholarship recipients and a Summa Cum Laude Candidate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from San Pedro College, Davao City, delivered her message sharing how this scholarship has been pivotal in her educational journey.
“AHME scholarship is more than financial support. It represents hope and how it can transform our lives where dreams are not just dreams; it can be a reality to those who dared and persevered,” Arandia said.
This program symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of scholars, filled with endless possibilities and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
“Through the AHME scholarship, I am able to rear my skills and knowledge to overcome challenges and contribute to the holistic formation of our society,” she added. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
