THE ATENEO de Manila University recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Ateneo de Davao University to create the Madaris Teachers Scholarship Program.

The program will allow organic teachers and Asatidz (Muslim teachers) to pursue graduate and undergraduate programs in education.

“It is a great pleasure for me to represent the Ateneo de Davao University in this signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between Ateneo de Davao and the Ateneo de Manila University, through which the Madaris Teachers Scholarship Program is established,” Fr. Joel Tabora SJ, ADDU president, said.

“The program promises to strengthen the skills of teachers and Asatidz of the madaris, which the Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) works with throughout Mindanao by providing valuable access to undergraduate and graduate studies in theoretical and practical education. The intervention thereby strengthens the MVP as a powerful example of intercultural and interreligious dialogue on the ground,” he added.

The program was created through the partnership of MVP and ADMU’s Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design. It is facilitated by Ateneo Teacher Center and Ateneo SALT Institute.

The collaborations focused primarily on empowering madaris stakeholders, particularly the dedicated teachers and Asatidz.

Through the GBSEALD’s Vicente Tiu Lim Teacher Education Endowment Fund, ADMU will provide financial support for qualified teachers/administrators to pursue their studies at any Ateneo school in Mindanao.

ADDU and MVP, on the other hand, will be responsible for the implementation of the program, which includes the application process, monitoring, and management of scholars.

The program will start in School Year 2023–2024. Two individuals will be granted scholarships each year, covering both graduate and undergraduate education programs.

“Today is a memorable occasion for two Ateneos. We may be separated by 1,400 kilometers but we are united in our commitment to form persons for and with others. Rooted and grounded in our Jesuit mission and identity, we seek students who will build a better Philippines for all Filipinos and will be agents for positive change amidst a world that is constantly evolving,” ADMU President Fr. Roberto Yap SJ said.

“I am heartened to see the creation of the Madaris Teachers Scholarship Program. Our society is changing and the needs of our citizens have become complex. Still, one thing remains constant: the role of education in achieving sustainable development,” he added.