Tertiary state education made free in the Philippines

Tertiary state education made free in the PhilippinesPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed a new law that makes education at all state universities and colleges in the country tuition-free, saying he believes “the long-term benefits of the measure outweigh the short-term budgetary challenges,” despite warnings from his economic advisers that the country cannot afford it.

The bill, signed on August 3, will spare all students at government-run colleges and universities from paying tuition and other fees, effective the first semester of school year 2018-2019. The law also provides support for eligible students who are studying in private higher education institutions and will offer student loan programmes.

The tuition-free system as such is estimated to cost about $2 billion per year for the Philippines’ 114 state universities and colleges. Critics said that the new law will only become a reality if the government allocates enough and accessible funding for universities and colleges.

In fact, it will be necessary to rehash a huge part of the proposed 2018 national budget as there was no allocation of funds for the new law yet. Under Duterte’s preliminary budget for 2018, the institutions only have a total allocation of $1.3 billion out of the country’s total education budget of $13.7 billion.

However, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education placed the initial costs for the new system at a more manageable $318 million, whereby the huge difference between the two cost estimates remains unclear.

Proponents of the new law argue that it was an investment into the nation’s most precious resources, education, literacy and skills, which would empower people to overcome poverty and social inequality and provide opportunities for everybody regardless of income and social status.



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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed a new law that makes education at all state universities and colleges in the country tuition-free, saying he believes “the long-term benefits of the measure outweigh the short-term budgetary challenges,” despite warnings from his economic advisers that the country cannot afford it. The bill, signed on August 3, will spare all students at government-run colleges and universities from paying tuition and other fees, effective the first semester of school year 2018-2019. The law also provides support for eligible students who are studying in private higher education institutions and will offer student loan programmes. The tuition-free...

Tertiary state education made free in the PhilippinesPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed a new law that makes education at all state universities and colleges in the country tuition-free, saying he believes “the long-term benefits of the measure outweigh the short-term budgetary challenges,” despite warnings from his economic advisers that the country cannot afford it.

The bill, signed on August 3, will spare all students at government-run colleges and universities from paying tuition and other fees, effective the first semester of school year 2018-2019. The law also provides support for eligible students who are studying in private higher education institutions and will offer student loan programmes.

The tuition-free system as such is estimated to cost about $2 billion per year for the Philippines’ 114 state universities and colleges. Critics said that the new law will only become a reality if the government allocates enough and accessible funding for universities and colleges.

In fact, it will be necessary to rehash a huge part of the proposed 2018 national budget as there was no allocation of funds for the new law yet. Under Duterte’s preliminary budget for 2018, the institutions only have a total allocation of $1.3 billion out of the country’s total education budget of $13.7 billion.

However, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education placed the initial costs for the new system at a more manageable $318 million, whereby the huge difference between the two cost estimates remains unclear.

Proponents of the new law argue that it was an investment into the nation’s most precious resources, education, literacy and skills, which would empower people to overcome poverty and social inequality and provide opportunities for everybody regardless of income and social status.



Support ASEAN news

Investvine has been a consistent voice in ASEAN news for more than a decade. From breaking news to exclusive interviews with key ASEAN leaders, we have brought you factual and engaging reports – the stories that matter, free of charge.

Like many news organisations, we are striving to survive in an age of reduced advertising and biased journalism. Our mission is to rise above today’s challenges and chart tomorrow’s world with clear, dependable reporting.

Support us now with a donation of your choosing. Your contribution will help us shine a light on important ASEAN stories, reach more people and lift the manifold voices of this dynamic, influential region.

 

 

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