The head of the economic team in the Marcos administration, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, has called for a reevaluation of the free college education system in state universities and colleges (SUCs), labeling it as “inefficient and wasteful.” Diokno, who was involved in the creation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) law during the Duterte administration, suggests a review of the program.
One of his proposals is to implement a national examination as a qualification for college subsidies. He believes this will help optimize the allocation of resources funded by taxpayers for education. According to Diokno, the current system is unwieldy and inefficient, considering that government resources are finite.
However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-SUCs opposes Diokno’s proposal, arguing that efforts to reduce tertiary education subsidies disregard the needs of Filipino youth. They point out that the budget for the UAQTE program accounts for only 0.83 percent of the 2023 national budget and has provided free college education to over two million SUC students.
Diokno’s statement regarding the rising dropout rate is also met with criticism from ACT-SUCs, who argue that students still face financial challenges despite having free tuition and other fees.
Diokno’s three-pronged approach includes strengthening the K to 12 Basic Education program, implementing a nationwide test to filter eligible students for free education, and allowing qualified students to choose between state universities or accredited private institutions.
ACT-SUCs rejects the nationwide exam proposal, stating that it limits access to free college education. They also call for scrutiny of the P10 billion confidential and intelligence funding in the proposed 2024 budget.
In summary, Finance Secretary Diokno’s call to review free college education in SUCs has sparked controversy, with opposing views on its effectiveness and the proposed changes to the system.
