“This is a testament to our mission to producing Bangsamoro professionals in all areas of BARMM. We stand by our promise to uphold and to reform the system to give access to quality service for social justice and every day we strive to make effective use of this promise.”
— BARMM Chief Minister Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-CUN
COTABATO CITY — The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) marked a significant milestone as it concluded a celebratory event today, April 18, honoring the achievements of the Access to Higher and Modern Education-Scholarship Program (AHME-SP) 1st cohort beneficiaries.
The ceremony, held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) here the city, spotlighted the remarkable journey of 1,400 scholars who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their academic pursuits.
One of the 15 primary ministries of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the MBHTE is headed by Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal.
Esteemed guests who came to commend the perseverance and commitment of these graduating students were BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al-Haj Murad” Ebrahim, Education Minister Iqbal, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Members of Parliament, Cotabato City Mayor Bruce “BM” Matabalao, MBHTE Director General for Higher Education Marjuni Maddi, among others.
“This is a testament to our mission to producing Bangsamoro professionals in all areas of BARMM. We stand by our promise to uphold and to reform the system to give access to quality service for social justice and every day we strive to make effective use of this promise”, said Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in his keynote message.
In his message, Iqbal looked back to the time when AHME was launched aiming “to create opportunities for the youth to gain access to quality higher education, to empower them to build a better future for themselves, and, in turn, to contribute to the growth and development of the Bangsamoro region.”
“Today, as I look at all of you, our first graduates under the AHME Program, I am filled with pride and optimism. I can see that dreams will become a reality for these youth and their families,” he added.
The event not only celebrated the scholars’ academic accomplishments but also underscored Education Ministry’s dedication to providing exceptional education in the Bangsamoro region.
Maddi expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the event’s success, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to its vision of “One Professional for Every Family”.
The AHME-SP, accessible to qualified senior high school and ALS graduates, offers a four- or five-year higher education curriculum. It prioritizes individuals from conflict-affected backgrounds, providing financial support of Php60,000 per academic year or Php30,000 per semester.
In a recent announcement, the Ministry disclosed the opening of applications for the AHME-SP Academic Year 2024-2025 (5th Cohort), set to commence on May 1, 2024, furthering its mission to empower the Bangsamoro youth through education.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction. Recently, SGA voters approved in a plebiscite the creation of eight municipalities out of the 63 villages.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. (✓)