Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
February 09, 2024
The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, officially designated as Republic Act 10931, is a Philippine law that institutionalizes free tuition and exemption from other fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local universities and colleges (LUCs) in the Philippines. The law also foresees subsidies for private higher education institutions. It is intended to give underprivileged Filipino students a better chance to earn a college degree.[1][2]
Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
An Act Promoting Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education by Providing for Free Tuition and Other School Fees in State Universities and Colleges, Local Universities and Colleges and State-Run Technical Vocational Institutions, Establishing the Tertiary Education Subsidy and Student Loan Program, Strengthening the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education and Appropriating Funds Therefor
The law was filed first by senator Ralph Recto,[3] principally sponsored by Senator Bam Aquino,[4] and was signed by Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines, on August 3, 2017.[5] The bill is supported by almost all members of Congress[3] In September 2017, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations announced that P40 billion had been gathered and that this amount would finance all expenses foreseen by the law for 2018.[6]
On March 26, 2018, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) released the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) pertaining to the Act.[2]
Before the signing of the bill by the President, the government took the view after intense political discussions that "the long-term benefits that will be derived from a well-developed tertiary education on the part of the citizenry will definitely outweigh any short-term budgetary challenges".[5] The government also stated that the "bottom 20 percent" was to have priority concerning the allocation of subsidies for education-related expenses.[5]
To continuously benefit from the law, students must meet all the admission and retention requirements. That is, they need to pass the admission and retention requirements of the universities, which includes finishing their degree on time and enrolling in the required number of units per year.[2]
Persons who have already obtained a bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree from any public or private higher education institution are not eligible for free education.[7]
The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) foresee different benefits depending on the type of institution in which the student enrols:
All (eligible) Filipino students enrolled in courses leading to a bachelor's degree in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and technical-vocational schools will be exempted from paying tuition and other school fees. They are also exempted from admission fees and fees for the use of library, laboratory and computers. For those enrolled in technical-vocational schools, further fees are exempted, including the cost of utilities, facilities, equipment and tools maintenance, as well as the honoraria of trainers.[2] Other school fees that are covered are specified under Sections 4 and 5 of RA 10931 and are further detailed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations.[8]
For those enrolled in private higher education institutions, a subsidy for tuition and other school fees is available.[2]
The law also includes provisions for student loans. According to the IRR, students with financial capacity may opt out of the benefits prescribed by the law.[2]
Transitional measuresedit
Resolution No. 620 – Reimbursements of fees paid for 2018:
In February 2018, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution No. 620 (Adopted Resolution No. 85) which called for the full and immediate implementation of the new law in the second school semester of 2017–2018. The senator who had sponsored this resolution, Bam Aquino, urged schools to adhere in full to the new law, which was all the more necessary as Filipino families were shouldering rising prices in goods and services due to the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN Law), and to refund whatever fees they may have continued to collect for that semester.[9]
Free Tuition 2017 program – Reimbursements based on an income-based ranking:
The Free Tuition 2017 program allowed SUCs received reimbursement for deserving students already for first semester of academic year 2017–2018, based on an income-based ranking of the students.[10]
Senate Resolution No. 620: Immediate Implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
FAQ relating to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by Senator Bam Aquino, August 11, 2017
, CNN, March 16, 2018
February 09, 2024
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The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act officially designated as Republic Act 10931 is a Philippine law that institutionalizes free tuition and exemption from other fees in state universities and colleges SUCs and local universities and colleges LUCs in the Philippines The law also foresees subsidies for private higher education institutions It is intended to give underprivileged Filipino students a better chance to earn a college degree 1 2 Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education ActCongress of the PhilippinesLong title An Act Promoting Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education by Providing for Free Tuition and Other School Fees in State Universities and Colleges Local Universities and Colleges and State Run Technical Vocational Institutions Establishing the Tertiary Education Subsidy and Student Loan Program Strengthening the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education and Appropriating Funds ThereforCitationRepublic Act No 10931Territorial extent PhilippinesPassed byHouse of Representatives of the PhilippinesPassedMay 30 2017Passed bySenate of the PhilippinesPassedMay 29 2017Signed byPresident Rodrigo DuterteSignedAugust 3 2017Administered byUniversal Access to Quality Education ActLegislative historyFirst chamber House of Representatives of the PhilippinesBill citationHouse Bill No 5633Second readingMay 16 2017Third readingMay 22 2017Committee reportCommittee Report No 227Second chamber Senate of the PhilippinesBill titleFree Higher Education for All ActBill citationSenate Bill No 1304Received from the House of Representatives of the PhilippinesJanuary 23 2017Member in ChargeRalph Recto Sonny Angara et al and Principally sponsored by Bam AquinoFirst readingJanuary 23 2017Second readingMarch 7 2017Third readingMarch 13 2017Status In forceThe law was filed first by senator Ralph Recto 3 principally sponsored by Senator Bam Aquino 4 and was signed by Rodrigo Duterte President of the Philippines on August 3 2017 5 The bill is supported by almost all members of Congress 3 In September 2017 the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations announced that P40 billion had been gathered and that this amount would finance all expenses foreseen by the law for 2018 6 On March 26 2018 the Commission on Higher Education CHED released the implementing rules and regulations IRR pertaining to the Act 2 Before the signing of the bill by the President the government took the view after intense political discussions that the long term benefits that will be derived from a well developed tertiary education on the part of the citizenry will definitely outweigh any short term budgetary challenges 5 The government also stated that the bottom 20 percent was to have priority concerning the allocation of subsidies for education related expenses 5 Contents 1 Requirements and benefits 2 Transitional measures 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksRequirements and benefits editTo continuously benefit from the law students must meet all the admission and retention requirements That is they need to pass the admission and retention requirements of the universities which includes finishing their degree on time and enrolling in the required number of units per year 2 Persons who have already obtained a bachelor s degree or comparable undergraduate degree from any public or private higher education institution are not eligible for free education 7 The Implementing Rules and Regulations IRR foresee different benefits depending on the type of institution in which the student enrols All eligible Filipino students enrolled in courses leading to a bachelor s degree in state universities and colleges SUCs local universities and colleges LUCs and technical vocational schools will be exempted from paying tuition and other school fees They are also exempted from admission fees and fees for the use of library laboratory and computers For those enrolled in technical vocational schools further fees are exempted including the cost of utilities facilities equipment and tools maintenance as well as the honoraria of trainers 2 Other school fees that are covered are specified under Sections 4 and 5 of RA 10931 and are further detailed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations 8 For those enrolled in private higher education institutions a subsidy for tuition and other school fees is available 2 The law also includes provisions for student loans According to the IRR students with financial capacity may opt out of the benefits prescribed by the law 2 Transitional measures editResolution No 620 Reimbursements of fees paid for 2018 In February 2018 the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution No 620 Adopted Resolution No 85 which called for the full and immediate implementation of the new law in the second school semester of 2017 2018 The senator who had sponsored this resolution Bam Aquino urged schools to adhere in full to the new law which was all the more necessary as Filipino families were shouldering rising prices in goods and services due to the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law TRAIN Law and to refund whatever fees they may have continued to collect for that semester 9 Free Tuition 2017 program Reimbursements based on an income based ranking The Free Tuition 2017 program allowed SUCs received reimbursement for deserving students already for first semester of academic year 2017 2018 based on an income based ranking of the students 10 See also editDuterteNomics Education in the Philippines Free education Libreng Kolehiyo WebsiteReferences edit Mario Casayuran June 3 2017 Proposed law to make education a right not a political favor Manila Bulletin Retrieved September 1 2017 a b c d e f CHED issues implementing rules and regulations on free tuition law The Philippine Star March 27 2018 Retrieved September 1 2018 a b Find out who really should get credit for sponsoring authoring free tuition bill in Senate politics com ph August 7 2017 Lawmakers laud signing of free tuition bill CNN Philippines August 4 2017 Archived from the original on August 4 2017 a b c Argyll Cyrus Geducos August 4 2017 Duterte signs bill on free tuition in SUCs Manila Bulletin Retrieved September 1 2017 Ellson Quismorio September 21 2017 Free college education fund now complete Manila Bulletin Retrieved September 2 2018 Implementing Rules and Regulations Rule II Section 6 Exceptions to Free HE Implementing Rules and Regulations Rule II Section 7 Benefits Hannah Torregoza February 13 2018 Aquino bats for refund of fees collected by SUCs Manila Bulletin Retrieved September 2 2018 CHED on COA Report Free Tuition 2017 reimbursements to SUCs almost complete External links editRepublic Act no 10931 Republic Act no 10931 PDF Republic Act no 10931 LAWPHiL project Implementing Rules and Regulations Senate Resolution No 620 Immediate Implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act FAQ relating to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by Senator Bam Aquino August 11 2017 List of universities and colleges with free tuition starting 2018 CNN March 16 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act amp oldid 1203256334, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
