Meritocratic free education
While the free tuition to students will be implemented in the next school year, not all will be able to avail it due to some provisions in the IRR of Republic Act 10931
The law is absolute but the implementing policies is meritocratic that hides many realities
The Universal Access to Quality Education Act or Republic Act 10931 is a law that is simple and perfect solution in countries where many sons and daughters of fishmongers and greengrocers, have been deprived to pursue tertiary education because of low income parents.
The government recognizes these individuals, if educated up to tertiary levels are integrals to economic growth, highly productive, and more active citizens to compose a happier community.
At face the law is absolute but the implementing policies is meritocratic that hides many realities, making it hard to access, thereby equity is at stake.
The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) says, you cannot avail of the free tuition and fees in SUCs and LUCs if: (a) You already have a bachelor’s degree or a comparable undergraduate degree from any public or private HEI; (b) You failed to comply with the admission or retention policies of the SUC or LUC, leading to your disqualification to enroll; (c) You failed to complete your degree within a year after the period prescribed for your program; (d) You voluntarily opted out of the free higher education provision.
In TVET programs, you also cannot avail of the free higher education provision if: (a) You already have a bachelor’s degree; (b) You already hold a certificate or diploma for a technicalvocational course equivalent to National Certificate Level III or higher; (c) You failed in any public TVET course since the free tuition law’s affectivity; (d) You are enrolled in a TVET program not registered under TESDA; (e) You opted out of the free TVET provision.
This school year is the first year of implementation. Ched announced it has P40 billion to cover the tuition and fees for the students enrolling in 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) and 78 local universities and colleges (LUCs).
The IRR’s salient feature says, free education is “for brilliant citizens only” not for the truly deserving ones.