2024-02-13-ADB-Tuition_Fee_or_Tuition_Free_The_Case_of_Public_Higher_Education_in_the_Philippines_18页_2mb

Tuition Fee or Tuition Free? The Case of Public Higher Education in the Philippines

Background

The Philippines faces challenges in higher education access and quality, particularly for low-income students. The “Public Higher Education Reform Roadmap” aimed to improve the sector. In 2017, the Philippine Congress introduced a bill (HB5633/SBN1304) to provide free tuition for first undergraduate degrees at public higher education institutions (HEIs).

Proposed Legislation

• Senate Bill (SB1304): Aimed for universal free higher education, emphasizing equality and finance.
• House Bill (HB5633): Focused on access for Filipinos, proposing four components: free public HEI tuition, free technical vocational education, tertiary education subsidies for disadvantaged students, and student loans.

Key Debates

1. Constitutional Mandate: The Constitution guarantees quality education, implying free, quality education access.
2. Budgetary Impact: Critics noted:
   • High cost, estimated at ₱100 billion initially.
   • Funding challenges in sustaining the policy.
3. Potential Exodus Effect: Students migrating from private to public institutions could worsen quality in both sectors.
4. Implementation Concerns:
   • Unequal targeting of aid, potentially excluding some underprivileged students.
   • Capacity limitations at public institutions to handle increased enrollment quickly.
   • Need for quality assurance mechanisms.

Outcome

• The bill, RA 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act), passed with bicameral agreement and was signed into law by President Duterte in August 2017.
• Implementation began in the 2018–2019 academic year, funded through the annual budget.
• Provided full tuition and fees exemption for public and local university college (LUC) students, funded via an expanded financial aid system (UniFAST).

Implementation and Challenges

• Budget allocation was substantial (₱40 billion allocated initially). A 2018 audit (Commission on Audit) reported low payout utilization for the program's initial phase.
• Subsequent government efforts focused on addressing overpayments, ensuring eligibility criteria were effective, and managing the program's complexity and cost.

In summary, while the policy aimed to promote equitable access to higher education, its implementation faced complexities related to funding, potential unintended consequences, and institutional capacity.