Diokno proposes review of free college education system

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno has proposed a review of the free college education system in state universities and colleges (SUCs), calling the present scheme ''wasteful."

"The core of my proposal to revisit the present ‘free’ college education is how to optimally allocate resources funded largely by taxpayers for education,'' Diokno said in a statement on Saturday. 

"Government resources funded by taxpayers’ money, by nature, are finite... The present regime is unwieldy, inefficient, and wasteful," the finance chief said.

Diokno earlier said that the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Law or free college education in state-run universities and colleges is an unsustainable program and anti-poor.

During a recent House hearing, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said that continued implementation of the law providing free college education is the best anti-poverty measure that the country can implement.

Data presented by CHED during a House hearing showed that 36.83% of college students who entered the School Year 2020–2021 dropped out or temporarily left schooling.

But at the same time, CHED said that the free college education law has increased the participation rate or percentage of the college-age population aged 15 to 25 enrolled in baccalaureate programs in higher educational institutions (HEI) to 42% in the School Year 2022-2023 from 32% in 2016–2017 or prior to the law’s passage in 2018.

However, Diokno, citing the rising dropout rate, said it is "an indicator of wastefulness."

Diokno outlined his reform proposal, which he said also ''aims to reduce the threat to the robust private school system."

"The elements of my proposal are the following: first, focus on strengthening the K-12 program; second, filter, through a nationwide test, those who should be entitled to free education," the finance chief said.

"Third, allow those who passed the nationwide exam and are entitled to ‘free’ education to use their entitlement (a four-year voucher) to enter or reject their assigned state university [or] choose an accredited private university; and [lastly] reduce the number of existing SUCs over time through mergers," Diokno said.

The chief economic manager of the Marcos administration explained that in strengthening the K-12 program, "the poor have a better chance of entering college and completing the same if they have a good foundation."

"That’s the key— excellent basic education. That should be our focus. The other goal of the K-12 program is to prepare the student for gainful employment or higher education. Many are not interested in going to college; they just want better jobs," Diokno said.

The Cabinet official is also proposing a nationwide test for those aspiring to go to college. 

"The score of the examinee will determine which SUC and its campus he or she will be assigned," Diokno said.

"Theoretically, as a government scholar, he is entitled to [a certain] amount of education voucher. He may refuse to enroll in an SUC assigned to him and instead attend any government-accredited private university that will admit him. Of course, the voucher will be released on an annual basis and will be based on satisfactory performance of the government scholar," he said.

On the proposal to merge SUCs, Diokno said this "can be done over a period of years, say five years."

"Initially, it can be started by having the same set of trustees in all SUCs within the same region. Note that there are several SUCs in a region," Diokno said.

Diokno admitted that his proposals "are not perfect, but they could immensely improve the allocation of scarce government resources."

Kabataan party-list  Representative Raoul Manuel called out Diokno, adding that access to quality education is a right, not a privilege.

"A Cabinet official questioning the sustainability of free higher education and the P6.16 billion budget cut for SUCs shows that it seems that giving access to quality education is not a priority of the Marcos Jr. administration. Otherwise, they would not scrimp on the budget for this," Manuel said.

He stressed that ''free college education is not a strain on public funds.''

''Reversing the hard-earned victory to provide free college education to students will negatively impact not just current beneficiaries but erect a barrier once again, blocking poorer students from claiming their right to education,'' Manuel said. — with Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News