A total of 500 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will make up the inaugural group of beneficiaries under a new scholarship initiative that aims to help migrant workers complete a bachelor’s degree by recognizing their years of professional experience.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), is rolling out the Lifelong Learning Education Assistance Program for OFWs (LEAP-OFWs), which offers educational assistance of up to ₱50,000 for qualified applicants. The grant may be used to cover tuition and other assessment-related expenses for those taking a bachelor’s degree through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP).
Unlike conventional degree programs, ETEEAP allows eligible working professionals to earn academic credits based on knowledge, skills, and competencies gained through years of employment. Applicants must still undergo assessment and satisfy the academic requirements set by CHED and participating higher education institutions before credits are granted.
Based on OWWA’s application guidelines, those seeking to avail of the scholarship must be active or returning OFWs, or qualified beneficiaries, at least 23 years old, with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience. They must also be high school graduates or college undergraduates and secure a Letter of Acceptance from a CHED-authorized institution offering ETEEAP before receiving assistance.
The application process begins with submitting an application to OWWA through its Regional Welfare Offices or the Reintegration Portal. Qualified applicants will receive a Certificate of Eligibility to Apply, which they will use to register in CHED’s ETEEAP online enlistment system before proceeding to assessment and eventual enrollment in a partner institution.
Applicants are required to prepare documents including a PSA birth certificate, passport, academic records, certificates of employment, and supporting records such as training certificates or other proof of competencies related to their chosen field.
The educational assistance will be released in two tranches of ₱25,000 each. The first installment will be provided after enrollment, while the second will be released upon submission of proof of continued enrollment for the succeeding academic year or evidence that the beneficiary has completed the required academic requirements for continued assistance.
OWWA said the assistance may be used for tuition and other assessment-related costs associated with the degree program. The scholarship may only be availed of once within one year after an OFW’s return to the Philippines, according to the program guidelines shown in the agency’s information materials.
