Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares III announced on Sunday the implementation of more education-related programs, which include the construction of more school buildings to bridge the gap on classroom shortage amid the rapidly growing number of students in public schools, and by sending more poor but deserving students to free college education.

Ynares said the construction of 353 new classrooms, for some 30,000 elementary pupils and high school students, is expected to improve the ratio of students in every classroom, while the rehabilitation of 587 classrooms is expected to decongest existing ones with more space, ventilation, lighting, and other amenities required for a conducive environment for learning.

He said that as for the provincial government’s education agenda, some 3,500 students are vying for grants under the scholarship program for School Year (SY) 2010-2011.

“Aspirants seeking to qualify as scholars come from the province’s 14 localities. Under the program, those who would qualify would be given a P10,000 per semester scholarship subsidy, while those who won’t make it still get P2,500 per semester financial assistance,” Ynares said.

He said the provincial government has always regarded education as its top priority by implementing programs designed to give wider access for the indigents to formal schooling.

Just last year, the provincial government spent some P439 million to defray the cost of constructing 353 new classrooms, and the improvement 587 existing ones.

Part of the amount also covers sending 1,358 students to free college education.

Rizal province has consistently been on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Network for conceptualizing, implementing, and maintaining remarkable programs resulting in high literacy rate.

As a fact, Rizal has already been cited three consecutive times. The award is given every three years.