Free higher education
CONTRARY to the earlier estimate of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Business for Education (PRED), a private, sectoral, advocacy group, says the government needs around 129 billion to cover the cost of freshmen alone and at least 1178 billion for students in existing State Universities and Colleges (SUC’s). According to PRED, the computation was based on the annual minimum cost of going to a quality SUC like the UP, based on the latest enrollment data from the CHED and its own study in 2015. The huge funding required will result in the reduction of funds allocated to the other government departments and institutions.
Years ago, when I was the governor of Cebu, one of my programs was the funding from my modest salary of a free high school scholarship program. I asked the Don Bosco Cebu fathers to manage the scholarship. The only requirement I set was that the high school scholars be valedictorians in their elementary school. I chose Don Bosco because I knew that all high school graduates of the said school were hired by the companies based in Cebu and the rest of the Visayas. The reason was Don Bosco graduates were good mechanics, electricians, carpenters, and so on. In fact many of my scholars became engineers – civil, mechanical, electrical, – and architects.
Therefore, I do believe to some extent in granting free scholarships nationwide. However, there should be certain criteria for the selection of free tertiary education. Not everyone should be entitled to it. For example, the passing grades of high school graduates to be entitled to tertiary quality higher education should perhaps be higher than the average grade. Former valedictorians and salutatorians should be given full scholarships. The others may be given less than full scholarships. How bout those who receive full scholarships – should they not serve the government for a few years in order to repay the government with their services? In the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the graduates are required to serve in the AFP for at least a couple of years. Other government scholars sent abroad to study are also required to serve in the government institution that sent them abroad.
Our government should also determine how many of its scholars will become engineers, scientists, doctors, financial executives, bankers, etc. The whole idea is to train our young people in the kind of skills that are needed for our country to develop into a successful nation. I am tired of listening to some of our government officials talking and talking about future plans without end. In South Korea, immediately after the Korean Truce Agreement, the South Korean government immediately trained their citizens to become scientists, engineers, and so it would become an industrialized country.
Finally, one of the services that is required for all patriotic Filipinos is to be part of the Armed Forces in order to defend our country in the event of any threat to our territorial integrity. I am referring to the Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC). College students should undergo at least the basic two-year ROTC course. Those receiving free scholarships in tertiary quality education from the government must be required to undergo military training. With the number of students that we have we will have one of the largest army reserves in the whole world.