Free Tuition For State Universities And Colleges

[Julianda]

I'm not against the administration of P.Duterte. In fact, I regarded himself (Du30) as the lesser evil among the candidates (though I voted Binay). And I am one of his silent cheerer who indirectly shouts whenever he accomplished any of his promises. But in the event a questionable move has taken place, expect a hefty reactions from his critics and I am one of them.

 

Recently, he signed the bill or the R.A 10931 (dated August 3, 2017) or the Universal Access To Quality Tertiary Education Act. It promotes and provides free tuition and other school fees in State Universities and Colleges and State-run Technical Vocational Institutions. It also establishes the tertiary education subsidy and student loan program, strengthens the unified student financial assistance system for tertiary education and appropriating funds.

 

Undoubtedly, none of his economic advisers has affixed his / her signature on the said act for obvious reasons. Or probably they're not authorized to do so(?) But that's beside the point, the main issue here is the seemingly unpreparedness and ended up this “bigay-bawi” style of the president for some reason. Yes, free tuition fee will probably be implemented this SY 2017-2018 but how about the budget for next SY 2018-2019 and the subsequent school years?

 

It seems like they're not even sure where to get the funds.

 

In the 2018 National Expenditure Program, neither Special Provisions 2 nor 6 were reiterated, while the provision on free tuition and the HESP in Special Provision 1 was removed.

 

"President Duterte’s economic managers consistently opposed the bill, then he himself subjected the P8.3 Billion allocation in the 2017 budget to conditional implementation. And now, funds that are supposed to continue the free college program in 2018 are missing from his proposed budget," Tinio said.

 

Rep. France Castro, for her part, said the government should increase budget allocation for free tuition.

"Instead of removing funds for free tuition and other school fees, the administration should even increase the allocation to ensure that tertiary education remains free in 2018 and that more youth can avail of it," she said.

"It should even substantially increase SUCs' budgets to ensure that what they offer is indeed quality education. But now we see that the President's promise to make higher education free is just a bigay-bawi," she added. Castro urged his fellow lawmakers at the Congress to bring back the provision for free tuition for undergraduate and medical students in 2018 budget. More here.

 

 

 

Budget Secretary Diokno, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia earlier said the law, if passed, would benefit mostly middle-class to high-income students who make up the majority of college students.

Such a policy could kickstart an exodus of students from private colleges and universities to state-run ones, which could ultimately affect the overall quality of tertiary education. (READ: Free tuition in state colleges: When CHED officials clash)

Duterte's economic managers had preferred to provide more funding for the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) which strengthens, expands, and harmonizes existing financial assistance programs for students.

Malacañang said Duterte also considered his administration's other big expenses when deciding whether or not to approve the free tuition bill.

He had to weigh the cost of the bill with the cost of the rehabilitation of Marawi City and programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), said Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag.

 

 

 

[haroots2]

I think Du30 is playing politics here to get his priority bill passed in the senate. Maraming nagpasalamat sa senador when he signed the bill which in turn may change their minds on some of his priority bill na hindi umuusad because of lack of vote sa upper house.

[paddy]

Personally i will say NO to free tuition in SUCs but YES to student loan. Students who availed the loan will be required to work for the government for 2 to 3 yrs to pay off the loan. The kind of work will be aligned with the course they took up.

[jacuzzi]

Nothing is lost yet. Our dear president can use his executive power to impose implementing rules and guidelines on the Law. He can channel most of the funds to promote careers and enhance the household income of deserving students from the most indigent family / background. This can be coordinated with the DTI, POEA so they can be high wage earners and net contributors to the economy. The idea is to uplift the families they belong to.

[stealthfighter]

Our country simply can't afford to sustain such privilege in the long term. Why? because the government is basically spending MONEY THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

[camiar]

 

From your assumption, then I guess the majority of students who can avail the free tuition from SUCs belong to the middle class and the super rich (taipans).

 

Middle class lang. The super rich send their children to exclusive private universities.

 

Yes, the majority who benefit will be the middle class. So what?! They are Filipino citizens, too, right? They are from tax-paying families to boot.

 

So how can students (coming from poor and indigent families) with just average intellect get their college education?

 

Student loans, scholarships, study-now-pay-later, study-while-you-work, etc.... whatever you can think of, it's been done before.

 

 

You get free tuition privileges if you are intelligent enough AND committed enough in order to deserve it. No matter what your economic status. Anything wrong with that?

Edited August 8, 2017 by camiar

[stealthfighter]

 

 

Middle class lang. The super rich send their children to exclusive private universities.

 

Yes, the majority who benefit will be the middle class. So what?! They are Filipino citizens, too, right? They are from tax-paying families to boot.

 

 

 

There's the problem right there. It will not address the educational needs of poor average-intellect Filipinos.

[paddy]

 

Middle class lang. The super rich send their children to exclusive private universities.

 

 

I have known super rich families sending their children to SUCs to study. They have passed the exams and hence they are qualified by law and avail free tuition.

Edited August 8, 2017 by paddy

[camiar]

 

There's the problem right there. It will not address the educational needs of poor average-intellect Filipinos.

 

It should address the educational need of the Filipino nation.

 

That means ALL Filipinos.

 

Average intelligence???? Why would you invest people's hard-earned taxes on average-intellect students? You should invest on the above-average intelligent students who have the right attitude and perseverance.

Edited August 8, 2017 by camiar

[camiar]

 

 

I have known super rich families sending their children to SUCs to study. They have passed the exams and hence they are qualified by law and avail free tuition.

 

In UP, yes. So what?

 

It's an honor to pass the UP admission test.

 

Anybody who pass the UPCAT deserves to study in UP -- rich or poor.

 

Pero konti lang sa mga anak ng super-rich ang kayang pumasa sa UPCAT.

Edited August 8, 2017 by camiar

[stealthfighter]

 

It should address the educational need of the Filipino nation.

 

That means ALL Filipinos.

 

Average intelligence???? Why would you invest people's hard-earned taxes on average-intellect students? You should invest on the above-average intelligent students who have the right attitude and perseverance.

 

Because the vast majority of poor Filipinos (and Filipinos in general) have a rather average level of intellectual capacity. How do I know? I was a teacher for 10 years and have witnessed the "the decline" in action.

 

If you're going to invest on "above-average intelligent students," they only constitute a minority and many of them are unlikely to come from poor families anyway. Therefore, how does that "address the educational need of the Filipino nation. That means ALL Filipinos."

Edited August 8, 2017 by stealthfighter

[paddy]

If our government can enact a law requiring ALL parents to send their kids (from ages 4 up to 18) to school (public or private, depending on financial capabilities), will it improve our nation's intellect? And if the government prioritizes the grassroots education (K1 to K12) by allotting most of the education budget to these sector, will it benefit Filipinos more? And if whatever budget is left be given to the SUCs, will this be more fair in general?

 

I dream of young Aetas in the mountain provinces having their own school right in their community... giving them a fighting chance and the opportunity to get quality education and gain entry to some of our prestigious SUCs...

[camiar]

 

Because the vast majority of poor Filipinos (and Filipinos in general) have a rather average level of intellectual capacity. How do I know? I was a teacher for 10 years and have witnessed the "the decline" in action.

 

If you're going to invest on "above-average intelligent students," they only constitute a minority and many of them are unlikely to come from poor families anyway. Therefore, how does that "address the educational need of the Filipino nation. That means ALL Filipinos."

It benefits all Filipinos if we wisely invest on Filipino students who have the qualifications to give the best return on our investment, instead of wasting them on a lot of average students who don't really care if they learn something or not.

[camiar]

1. give to deserving SUC students regardless of social strata.

2. students should pass a very stringent entrance examination.

3. they should have maintaining grades.

4. length of college schooling = length of government service after they graduate.

 

I agree.

[Gwen Morales]

 

 

I have known super rich families sending their children to SUCs to study. They have passed the exams and hence they are qualified by law and avail free tuition.

Super rich families nowadays dont send their children in Philippine universities whether SUC or Private.

 

They send their children abroad.

 

Yan ay kung pag uusapan naten ay Super Rich. Ganern na ngayon.