MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is advising incoming college

students to go for "priority courses" for them to get financial assistance and to land in-demand jobs that
could help spur economic growth.

The agency has updated its list of priority courses that were identified based on national development
plans, manpower demands until 2018 and a study of the Department of Labor and Employment that
determined the in-demand and hard-to-fill courses, skills and jobs that match the projected employment
requirements of key industries until 2020.

"Ito (priority courses) 'yung mga kailangan na kailangan ng mga industriya para ma-spur yung economic
development," CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo said in an interview.

According to the new list, the priority courses are those in the fields of agriculture, engineering, science
and math, information technology, teacher education, health sciences, arts and humanities, social and
behavioral sciences, business administration, architecture, maritime and communication.

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There are also specific priority courses identified for each region. In Metro Manila, for instance, the list
includes library science, values and technical teacher education, astronomy, food technology, pre-
dentistry, political science, real estate, accounting technology, customs administration, management and
criminology.

Excluded from the CHED list are oversubscribed courses such as nursing and hotel and restaurant
management.

"Generally, ito yung mga courses na siksikan na. Kung hahanap kang trabaho, medyo marami kayong
maghahabulan," Vitriolo said.

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 No CHED assistance for non-priority courses

Vitriolo is encouraging students to take up these priority courses if they want to avail of the primary
student financial assistance programs (StuFAP) of CHED: scholarships, grants-in-aid and student loans.

Graduates or graduating high school students in public and private schools with a general weighted
average (GWA) of at least 85 percent are qualified for scholarships, which could be anywhere between
P15,000 and P30,000 per academic year.

Those with a passing GWA in high school and college students with a passing grade for the last two
semesters could get financial assistance worth between P6,000 and P12,000.

College students with family income less than P300,000 will also be given a loan of P15,000.

Vitriolo said for the coming school year, CHED will spend about P6.7 billion for 340,000 to 350,000
StuFAP slots.

But he clarified that those who will not choose among the priority courses will not be qualified for CHED's
assistance programs.

"Hindi ka namin bibigyan ng scholarship. Wala kang financial assistance," Vitriolo said.

So for those who would want to take up nursing, for instance, Vitriolo said they should just pursue related
priority courses such as health science, medical technology and pharmacy to get a financial assistance.

(For application procedures and documentary requirements for the StuFAP, visit this CHED page)

For national development

Vitriolo stressed that pursuing the priority courses will not only enable students to get financial assistance
and in-demand jobs in the future, but it will also give them the opportunity to contribute to the country's
development.

This is because the priority courses are needed by the economy and they support the government's
development agenda, Vitriolo said.

"Pagkakataon nila ito para makapag-aral ng libre at para makatulong din," he said.

Echoing Vitriolo's statements, the director of the CHED Office of Student Development and Services said
the priority courses are aligned to the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan, the country's economic
blueprint which adopts a framework of inclusive growth.

"This strategy will allow the student financial assistance programs beneficiaries to enroll in undergraduate
courses that will provide positive impact on national development goals," Dr. Isabel Inlayo said in an
email.

Here's the full list of CHED's priority courses until school year 2017 to 2018:

1. Agriculture and Related Fields

Agro-Forestry

Veterinary Medicine

Agricultural Engineering

Agribusiness/Management

Agricultural Entrepreneurship

Agricultural Technology
 Agriculture

Fisheries

BS Food Technology

Agricultural Economics

2. Engineering

Mechanical

Electronics

Communication

Metallurgical/Mining

Computer

Biomedical

Chemical

Geodetic

Electrical

Meteorological

Mining

Geological

Sanitary Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Civil Engineering

Electronics and Communication Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Bio Chemical Engineering

3. Science and Math

BS Mathematics

BS Physics

BS Biology

BS Chemistry

BS Marine Biology/Science

BS Applied Physics
 BS Geology

BS Earth Science

BS Applied Mathematics

BS Statistics/Applied Statistics

Atmospheric Science

Environmental Science

4. Information Technology

Information Technology and Computing Studies

Multimedia

Animation

Programming

Computer Science

Information System Management

Bachelor in Library Science & Information System Major in System Analysis

5. Teacher Education major in

Mathematics

Science

Physics

Chemistry

Reading

English

Educational Media/Technology

Special Education (SPED)

Human Kinetics

Physical Education and Sports Science

Bachelor of Physical Education major in School PE

Early Childhood Education

Environmental Planning (for teachers)

MAPEH

Music Education

Art Education
 Health Education

6. Health Sciences

Pharmacy

Radiology Technology

Medical Technology

Physical Therapy

BS Nutrition

7. Arts and Humanities

Creative and Performing Arts

BS Religious Education

BS Philosophy

BS Theology

8. Social and Behavioral Sciences

BS Psychology

BS Social Work

Human Development

Guidance and Counseling

9. Business Administration and Related Courses

BS Accountancy

Business Data Outsourcing

Business Process Outsourcing

Construction Management

Tourism

10. Architecture

BS Architecture

Landscape Architecture

Interior Design

Environmental Planning

Fine Arts

Urban Planning

11. Maritime
 BS Marine Transportation

12. Communication

BA Communication

BA Journalism

BA Broadcasting

BS Development Communication

13. Others (to be determined by each CHED Regional Office)