SHEFA is experiencing funding problems due to the decrease in poker fee collections, but there are other scholarship programs offered by the CNMI government and charitable foundations.
“SHEFA is providing scholarships to those who are unable to apply for the other scholarship grants. We have to give everybody a chance,” the mayor told the Variety.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Saipan Rotary Club are providing grants to qualified students.
Also providing scholarships are the Office of Carolinian Affairs, the Society of Professional Engineers, the Robert C. Byrd’s Honors Scholarship, the federal Pell Grant, the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grant program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Federal College Work Study, the U.S. Army Reserve Tuition Assistance, the Government Employees Professional Development Assistance Program, and the Micronesian Region of Different Island States Scholarship.
Variety was told that there were cases when a student, after completing a course, applied for another scholarship program because he had either failed to look for a job or wanted to pursue his education.
Students can avail of more than one scholarship financial assistance program if qualified.
A parent told Variety that the government should regulate the granting of scholarships.
“Maybe it’s time now that we should be more independent in pursuing our education not completely relying on money from gambling,” another parent said, referring to poker fees.
According to SHEFA, the recipient of the scholarship program must agree to return to Saipan within three months after the completion of his studies and work on island whether in the government or the private sector.
SHEFA has yet to track down the total number of its recipients who have already returned to the CNMI.
The SHEFA handbook states that if the recipient does not return to Saipan after the completion of his studies, he must repay the scholarship grant.
“But how can they work here when there’s not enough jobs,” said another parent who also refused to be identified.
Flores said the SHEFA board should ensure that everybody qualified is given the opportunity to avail of the program.
He acknowledged that SHEFA may suspend one of its programs due to the lack of funds.
