Municipal employees in Puerto Rico, along with their spouses, children and dependents listed on tax returns, can now study at three Education Department (DE) postsecondary institutions with a 50% scholarship, Governor Jenniffer González announced on Monday, November 2. The covered schools are the Puerto Rico Technological Institute (ITPR), the Die-Making and Tooling School (ETH) and the Puerto Rico Aviation Maintenance Institute (PRAMI).
The initiative began in August, first for DE employees, and was later extended to all Executive Branch employees. González said it opens opportunities for more public servants to be better prepared and to qualify for better jobs. ITPR has campuses in San Juan, Guayama and Manatí, where students would pay $37.50 per credit, and offers associate degrees in Business, Engineering Technologies and Health, plus Plumbing and Construction certifications.
PRAMI, in Fajardo, offers a program approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in aircraft maintenance, focused on airframe and engine, using real aircraft. ETH, in Bayamón, teaches design, fabrication, adaptation and repair of metal and plastic parts, molds and dies, with day and night programs. At ETH and PRAMI the cost is $2.00 per hour.
Applicants must present employment certifications, marriage and birth certificates and certified tax returns. DE Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés said the benefit recognizes municipal workers’ essential role. Eligible students may also apply for federal aid such as the Pell Grant, FSEOG and Federal Work Study. Information is at www.estudiaconnosotros.com.