CHED: Setting aside free college education to be disastrous for PH

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero de Vera III on Tuesday warned of the possible negative effects of the proposal to grant free college education in state universities and colleges (SUCs) only to select students.

De Vera said this in light of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s suggestion to review the free college education system in SUCs, calling the present scheme ''wasteful."  

“We’re not asking for the moon. We’re not asking for doubling the budget for free higher education. Pinagkakasya namin kung anong nandiyan [we make most of what’s there]. But please, do not set it aside because the impact of this all over the country is really going to be disastrous,” de Vera said in an ANC interview.

He pointed out that access to education was critical, and the government should open possibilities for more Filipinos to get a university education.

De Vera emphasized that higher education yielded the highest return of investment (ROI).

Citing a World Bank report, he said the government would gain 17% ROI from students who finished college, 7% from those who finished high school, and 10% from those who finished elementary.

“If the policy of the government is to increase access and equity in higher education, then the Free Higher Education Law is the right way to do it,” de Vera said.

“If you want a workforce that makes you competitive in the future, government must invest in higher education now because the skills of the future, you don't learn it in primary and secondary education anymore,” he added.

De Vera said the CHED's proposed funding under the 2024 national budget was a little over P30 billion. — DVM, GMA Integrated News