Gov't provides access to free, quality college education

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1042168
• Sunday, July 22, 2018

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor [With reports from Lyda Gail Suyu (OJT), PNA]

MANILA -- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reported on Friday that it has focused on the creation of quality and equal access to tertiary education and training programs for the past year.

In a press briefing in Quezon City, CHED Officer-in-Charge J. Prospero de Vera III said the Commission used President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2017 as their framework in crafting initiatives from which life-long learners could benefit.

“Access, quality and equity are our key concepts with regards to the many programs that are being undertaken and the biggest development since last year was the signing of RA 10931 by the President,” de Vera said.

Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act was signed into law by President Duterte last year.

De Vera said parents of almost 900,000 students have saved money because they no longer paid for the tuition of their children enrolled in 112 state colleges and universities and 78 CHED-recognized local universities and colleges.

He added that this figure will increase to 1.3 million as parents need not pay for the miscellaneous fees as well in 2018.

To ensure that all indigent learners are given access to higher education, de Vera said RA 10931 has expanded the Tertiary Education Subsidy.

“There’s another PHP16 billion allocated for 300,000 slots for poor students. The first priority are the children of the 4Ps. The second priority are students who can enroll in private universities because they live in municipalities and cities where there are no public universities. Third priority is all other poor students as manifested by other documents,” he said.

De Vera added that CHED offers other programs through which every Filipino could access quality education.

These include the Ladderized Education Program, Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, Free Medical Education, Tulong-Dunong Program, Payapa at Maganang Pamayanan and Education Assistance Programs.

Since students in state universities and colleges no longer need to pay for their tuition and fees, de Vera said there is no need for them to be Tulong-Dunong scholars anymore.

Nonetheless, CHED continues to provide them with the PHP12,000 cash assistance every year.

“We’ve converted into direct cash assistance... so they can pay for their books, transportation,” he said.