RESPONSES ON THE ROLE OF SCHOLARSHIP IN SUPPORTING LEARNING

by:
Maagad, Isaac
Tomarong, Ryza T.

Abstract
This qualitative research evaluates the role of scholarships in supporting
learning at Tagoloan Community College. Through semi-structured interviews
with five teachers and five students, the study identifies how scholarships
impact student experience and academic journey. Findings highlight that
scholarships provide crucial financial aid, offer significant emotional support,
and serve as powerful motivators for academic achievement. The study
suggests ways in which scholarships may be enhanced such as making them
easier to apply for, broadening their coverage of school needs, and integrating
more emotional and academic support.

Keywords: Scholarship

Introduction
Scholarship is a financial award given to students by a school, university, or other
institution to help them pursue their education without the burden of heavy tuition fees.
Scholarships are crucial in providing access to higher education and ensuring that financial
constraints do not hinder talented and deserving students from achieving their academic and
career goals. (Popa, 2024) Scholarships are monetary grants given to students to fund their
studies based on their achievements in the classroom or in other areas. Scholarships are financial
grants given to students in accordance with their academic achievement and promise. Numerous
merit-based scholarships are awarded to students who meet the requirements for financial help.
(Ahmed et al, 2022)

The free college education law in the Philippines is primarily associated with Republic
Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which was signed
into law in August 2017. An act promoting universal access to quality tertiary education by
providing for free tuition and other school fees in state universities and colleges, local
universities and colleges and state-run technical-vocational institutions, establishing the Tertiary
Education Subsidy and Student Loan Program, strengthening the Unified Student Financial
Assistance System for Tertiary Education, and appropriating funds therefor.(Manila Bulletin
2022) They are typically awarded based on various criteria, including academic merit, financial
need, athletic skill, or artistic talent. (Popa, 2024) Each one has different requirements and ways
to apply.(Merry, 2024)
 1

Scholarships have rules you need to follow, like keeping your grades up, joining certain
activities, or working in a specific field after you graduate. If you don't follow the rules, you
might lose the scholarship. In other words, during the scholarship period, students have the
chance to put in more effort to improve their achievement. Such as high student grade point
average is a valuable asset that can motivate and improve performance, not only for the students
themselves but also for third parties, such as schools, university, or other institution. (Byantoro et
al. 2024) Furthermore, The teacher assesses student’s academic performance during the process.
Numerous factors influence student’s academic performance (Ramzan& Rafiq, 2025) According
to (Wang et al. 2022) Providing scholarships to students is expected to address economic
challenges and enable students to focus on their studies, which can improve their academic
performance compared to students who do not receive scholarships.

According to (Popa, 2024) There are many types of scholarships, but some of the most
popular include: Merit-Based Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students
with outstanding academic achievements - These scholarships recognise students with high
GPAs, excellent test scores, or significant accomplishments in specific academic fields. Need-
Based Scholarships: Need-based scholarships are designed to help students from low-income
families who might otherwise be unable to afford higher education. These scholarships consider
the financial situation of the student's family and aim to bridge the gap between what the family
can afford and the cost of education. Minority Scholarships: Minority scholarships are intended
to promote diversity within educational institutions. These scholarships support students from
underrepresented groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, to ensure they have equal access
to educational opportunities.

This paper investigates and provides a deeper perception of the role of scholarships among
students, focusing on how it operates, the individuals involved, and its significant effects on the
scholar. By carefully studying and doing research, it looks at what scholarship is, how it
happens, who's involved, and what it causes. By bringing together different viewpoints, this
study hopes to help people perceive the role of scholarships in supporting learning better and
find ways to continue and help those needed students.

Methods
The researchers employed a qualitative research approach to gain in-depth insights into the
perspectives and experiences of 5 students and 5 teachers from Tagoloan Community College.
Semi-structured interviews were utilized as the sole method for data collection, offering a
balance between consistency in questioning and flexibility to explore emerging themes. This
approach ensured the collection of rich and nuanced data essential for addressing the research
problem in detail. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework, was
used to identify patterns and themes within the data. To enhance credibilty, member-checking
was conducted, allowing participants to validate the findings. Ethical considerations were upheld
through informed consents, confidentiality, and anonymization of data, ensuring adherence to
best practices in qualitative research (Bhandari,2025).
 2

Results and Discussions

Table 1: Qualitative table of emerging key themes and sub-themes from the participants
responses.

Participants Main Themes Sub- Themes Significants Statements

No.

"scholarship can help the students' meet

practical demands enhancing their overall
performance."

"It is important to have at least a scholarship

Participants Practical Essential by each student to support the student
1 Learning Needs Resources learning process where they cannot normally
get from their families."

"The possible change that the scholarships

can make to even more helpful to students is
to give a higher budget/allowance that can
really help them not just for their mortgage
but also for the materials that they need in the
classroom."

"Aside from money, it will give them a

chance to enhance their potential."

"It will give them access and other helpful

Participants Beyond Motivation and aids to improve their capabilities and
2 Monetary Value Stress Levels performance."

"If we will talk about how helpful the

scholarships are, I will say that it depends on
how responsible the student are in utilizing
their scholarship."
 3

"Scholarships help students buy what they

need for school and allow them to focus more
on studying than worrying about money."

"Scholarships boost students' motivation and

Participants Practical and Financial Relief reduce their stress because they feel supported
3 Holistic Support and Enhanced and valued."
Focus
"Make scholarships easier to apply for, cover
more school needs, and give emotional or
academic support too."

"As a student who is financially unstable. it

Direct Financial Practical Needs helps me to buy the needs especially my
Participants Relief and and Financial instructional Materials for my demo
4 Indirect Holistic Stability teaching."
Benefits
"It is important because at least the burden
when it comes to money and expenses is
gone."

"Scholarship makes me motivate to study

hard and reduces the stress level as a student.
It let’s me stress less for the future because I
don't have to think more about finances."
Participants Motivation, Motivation and
5 Stress Stress "Scholarship helps me not just in buying
Reduction, and Alleviation books but also It helps me to pay for my
Tailored financial needs specially projects, and etc."
Support
"when it comes in Learning it help me to do
or work hard because scholarship at the end is
a good opportunity specially for me"

" Right now, the scholarship is slowly

 4

disappearing because there are some who

Equity, Accessibility hold or manage the money corruptly. One of
Participants Accessibility, Improvements the possible changes I want is to give it to
6 and Program people who will properly manage the money
Integrity and not just take it without care because
where is the saying that the youth are the hope
of the nation if the elders do not know how to
help the young ones."

Participants Financial Boosting "scholarships make me feel proud and

7 Freedom and Motivation and motivated because they recognize my hard
Psychological Self-Worth work in school."
Empowerment
"Some scholarships are designed for students
from different background and offer special
support."

"In my view, a possible changes that can

Participants Expanding Wider make scholarships even more helpful to on
8 Accessibility Coverage and students like me, is then to make the
Attainability scholarships wider their coverage and more
attainable for a student like me."

Participants Academic Provide Basic "It helps student to buy school needs such as
9 Support Academic pen, paper, bag, pencil and many more"
Neccessities

Participants Direct Financial Financial "It give me more opportunity to make my

10 Help support needs like financial more easy because my
family struggle financially.
 5

The study on the “Teacher and Students Perception on the Role of Scholarship in Supporting
Learning” explores the correlation between the role of scholarship in promoting active learning.
It examines how scholarship platforms such as UNIFAST and others Scholarship platforms help
students to have an access to quality education. According to the RA ACT No.10931 SEC. 2.
Declaration of policy- It states that quality education is an inalienable right of all Filipinos and it
is the policy of the state to protect and promote the rights of all students to quality education at
all levels. Therefore, the State shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to
all (Manila Bulletin 2022 ). Given this, the government ensures that the standard learning for the
students is given and it is accessible to all Filipinos who want to finish their studies (Del Rosario,
2023).

Financial. The participants in this study described how scholarship help students when it
comes to the practical demands required for learning like affording to buy materials for some
project and also having a quality study time. A student's economic situation has a significant
impact on their learning environment. Compared to impoverished, indigent students, families
with higher incomes typically have better access to schooling and educational resources. Need-
based scholarships help students manage their educational costs and lessen the financial burden
on families so that their children can receive an education. Students are awarded scholarships to
help them achieve a variety of objectives. Through scholarships, underprivileged students are
encouraged to enroll in classes they cannot afford (Rafiq et al., 2024). The participants of
the study corroborate their findings, to wit:
“ Scholarship help students buy what they need for school and allow them to focus more on
studying instead of worrying about money.’’ (Ps1,Ps2, Ps3, Ps4, Ps9 & Ps10)

The majority of students are satisfied with the help of Scholarship. They viewed it as
valuable financial aid that helps manage their expenses, Some participants also mentioned that
scholarship plays a crucial role in supporting learning. They highlighted that pursuing higher
education in a developing country like philippines is challenging, as many people live in difficult
financial conditions. In this regard, such financial aid is incredibly helpful.

As noted by Mulyaningsih et al. (2022) The association between financial aid or

scholarships and students' academic performance, motivation, engagement, retention, and
satisfaction has also been empirically supported by several studies.

Emotional. Scholarships can be magical stepping stones for students, opening doors to a
world of knowledge without the heavyweight of financial strain. Imagine the joy of a
hardworking student receiving the news that their tuition will be covered. Not only does this lift
a financial burden, allowing them to focus on their academic pursuits, but it also acts as a
confidence boost, affirming their hard work and potential.The participants of the study
corroborate their findings to wit:

“ Scholarship are very important because they help me study without financial stress and
worries.’’ (Ps2, Ps4, & Ps7)
 6

Beyond just the monetary relief, scholarships can enhance a student’s resume and career
prospects, often providing networking opportunities and valuable resources.Essentially,
scholarships do more than just pay bills; they empower dreams, fuel aspirations, and ignite the
belief that with dedication and support, anything is possible (Global Indian International
School, 2023).

As noted by Dr. Wes Heroman (2024) Financial stress is a significant concern for many
college students, often leading to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
Scholarships can alleviate this burden, allowing students to focus more on their studies and
personal development rather than worrying about tuition fees and living expenses. This reduction
in financial stress can have a profound impact on a student’s mental health and overall well-
being.

Motivation. Scholarships provide more than just financial relief; they serve as powerful
motivators for academic achievement. Receiving a scholarship can significantly boost a student’s
confidence and validate their academic efforts, encouraging them to maintain high standards and
strive for excellence.This recognition can lead to improved academic performance, as students
feel a sense of responsibility to honor the investment made in their education (Dr.Heroman,
2024). The participants of the study corroborate their findings, to wit:

" Scholarship makes me motivated to study hard,and about the stress level as a student's, it's
less stress for me because I don't have to think more about financial." (Ps2, Ps5 &, Ps7)

The result of the study showed that students were intrinsically motivated and promoted
academic resilience and self-efficacy due to the scholarship. Students claimed that they felt
superior, and high achievers in the classroom due to the highest scores. The same findings found
in the research of Umm e Habiba, & Liaqat, M. (2022), highlighted that scholarship is a
marvelous reward for the student, which makes them talented, hardworking in their life, and able
to secure the best grade points in each semester.

Family background. Going to college is one of the distant dreams for many low-income
individuals. Due to high tuition costs, most cannot afford to sustain themselves to finish their
education, which often results in missed opportunities. However, free higher education has
enabled more people to enroll (Learn.org, 2024). This government program is specifically
designed for marginalized sectors that cannot afford to pay for their education. Thus, every
institution gives more chances to the poor but deserving students. The participants of the study
corroborate their findings, to wit:

" Yes, students from poorer families often benefit more because they have fewer
resources at home." (Ps1, Ps3,Ps4, & Ps10,)
 7

Cervantes (2023) states that free higher education in the country must ensure equity-based
access to all students; however, those who belong to the marginalized sector must be given
priority. Given this, Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a bill that assures improving the quality of
education for the local universities and colleges (Senate of the Philippines, 2023).

Bai (2023) states that poverty has been a long-standing issue in the Philippines, and
education remains a distant dream for most people living below the poverty line. Hence, the
government has launched various initiatives to address poverty and its educational impact. One
of the programs is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which provides cash
assistance to the marginalized sectors to help them meet their basic needs, including education.

Improvements. Providing Filipino students access to quality higher education is not a

privilege but a fundamental right. It is one of the basic rights among the people that is crucial in
fostering social and economic development in the country. As Benjamin Franklin once said, no
politician should take away the benefits of education to the people. Public education is a huge
investment by the government, and it is both beneficial and cost-effective than dealing with the
consequences of uneducated youth (Madrigal, 2023).
" Make scholarship easier to apply for, cover more school needs, and give emotional
or academic support too." ( Ps1,Ps3, Ps6, & Ps8)

In the Philippines, the dream of every Filipino to enroll and finish college is the
government's upfront priority. Since 2017, the country has provided free, accessible education as
stipulated under Republic Act 10931. Despite having an accessible education for all, according
to Anni, Dagohoy & Lagura (2024), there are still high dropout rates and poor performance in
national and international achievement tests, which has been hunting the country's education
system. Other than this, the Department of Budget and Management (DMB) states that the
government needs more funds to address the country's classroom shortage (Galvez, 2022).

Navarro (2022) states that all institutions, including the private sector, must improve the
student's learning environment by providing better and adequate school facilities. These are
good investments that would result in quality and better student learning outcomes and,
eventually, productive workers in the future. All of these are integral to building endogenous
economic growth in the country.

Conclusions
In conclusion, the study revealed that scholarships are perceived as a multifaceted support
system that goes beyond mere financial assistance. They address practical needs, provide
emotional encouragement, boost academic motivation, and promote equitable access to
education, ultimately contributing significantly to student success and the broader societal
development of the Philippines. To further enhance their impact, participants suggested making
scholarships easier to apply for, broadening their coverage of school needs, and integrating more
emotional and academic support.
 8

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 9

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 APPENDIX II
QUESTIONNAIRE

TEACHER AND STUDENTS PERCEPTION ON THE ROLE OF SCHOLARSHIP IN

SUPPORTING LEARNING

1. In your view, how do scholarships directly help students meet the practical demands
required for learning (e.g., affording materials, having quality time to study)?

2. Compared to other supports like family aid or school resources, how important do you
perceive the role of scholarships is in supporting student learning?

3. Beyond money, how do you perceive scholarships impacting key factors for learning,
such as students motivation or stress level?

4. In your view, does the learning support provided by a scholarship differ depending on the
students background? if yes, how so?

5. In your view as a teacher/students what possible changes could make scholarships even
more helpful to students?
 APPENDIX III
DOCUMENTATION
 CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL DATA

Name: Maagad, Isaac

Address: Zone 7, Looc, Villanueva Misamis Oriental

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Contact No.: 0968-208-3817

Email: [email protected]

PERSONAL DATA
Nationality: Filipino

Status: Single

Date of Birth: November 12, 2005

Place of Birth: Cagayan De Oro City

EDUCATION
Elementary: Kalingagan Elementary School

Junior High: Kalingagan Junior High School

Senior High: Kalingagan Senior High School

Tertiary: Tagoloan Community College (TCC)

 CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL DATA

Name: Tomarong, Ryza T.

Address: Zone 3, Puerto, Cagayan De Oro

Age: 20

Sex: Female

Contact No.: 0951-679-2355

Email: [email protected]

PERSONAL DATA
Nationality: Filipino

Status: Single

Date of Birth: February 22, 2005

Place of Birth: Navotas City

EDUCATION
Elementary: Central Elementary School (Navotas, Metro Manila)

Junior High: Puerto National High School

Senior High: Iligan Computer Institute - ICI (Zone 2, Bugo)

Tertiary: Tagoloan Community College (TCC)