PARENTS are finding it more difficult to pay for the college education of their children.
“It’s hard and very expensive,” said Jessica Guerrero, a government employee whose son, Norman, is currently enrolled at the University of Hawaii in Manoa majoring in geography.
Norman is under a scholarship program but still has to work as a restaurant host to survive life in Hawaii—one of the most expensive states to live in the U.S.
Guerrero also has to send her son an allowance every month.
But Guerrero is not complaining. She said education is the best investment she could provide her son.
“The minute a child is born, a college student is born. Education is the best investment that parents can give their children. I’d rather be broke and send them to school—it’s my priority,” she said.
Vince Merfalen, another government employee, sends his son Eric to Case Western University in Ohio. Eric is taking up journalism and is currently employed in a local publication.
Merfalen said it was Eric’s choice to study in Ohio and he is more than glad to support him.
“Although he values his independence so much, I help him out whenever I can,” the father said.
Like Guerrero, Merfalen believes that only education can best shape the future of his son.
“Education is extremely important because things are becoming more complicated these days. A lot of new technology and a lot of new things are happening,” Merfalen said.
“For an individual to become productive members of our society, they must have sufficient education,” he added.
Paireni Kapwich, a 19-year-old student of Northern Marianas College, plans to take up a computer-related course in the U.S.
She is currently receiving a $1,280 financial aid under the Federal Bill Grant. An academic unit at NMC costs $65. She says she’s getting by with the help of her family.
She fears, however, that it would be more difficult to study in the U.S.
“Here it’s not really expensive. But I think in the U.S. it’s going to be more expensive. I’m still looking for ways to (finance my education),” Kapwich said.
Although the CNMI government provides financial aid to students through the Scholarship Office, the amount that students receive per semester covers only a small fraction of their entire expenses which include tuition, board and accommodation, food, books, among other things.
This year, funds needed to operate the scholarship program is projected to increase to $6 million.
