The 1987 Constitution also recognizes the complementary roles of public and private sectors and the need to provide quality education and access of students to this. Shed’s approach to the issue of tuition is holistic. In light of contending concerns and Interests in society, there Is a need to balance access issues with sustainability of educational institutions. 1 OFF Higher Education Development Center Building, C.
P. Garcia Eve. , UP Campus, Dilemma, Guenon City, Philippines Web Site: www. Ached. Gob. PH Tell. will ensure that HESS meet the guidelines provided by law, especially the requirement of consultation, the allocation of tuition fees, and the strict adherence with the processes that seek to make tuition fee increases transparent, reasonable and affordable.
On April 5, 2013, a resolution was passed by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PAPAS) approving a moratorium on undergraduate tuition and miscellaneous fee increases in all public HE’s. In order to address the issues of higher education financing, access to affordable education, and viability of HE’s, ACHED believes there is a need to adopt a financing framework that balances the tuition fee policy imposed on HE’s, accessibility concerns, student financial assistance and the greater concern for quality outcomes.
In coordination with government and non-government agencies, ACHED has crafted COM 9, series of 2013 or the Enhanced Policies and Guidelines on Student Affairs and Services which seeks to improve the delivery of student welfare services and activities for students. For school year 2013-2014, ACHED has programmed 52,517 Student Financial Assistance Programs’ (Satraps) beneficiaries amounting to more than Phi-million. This is 10 per cent more than the slots provided for last year. The Satraps support deserving students enrolled in public and private HE’s.
In addition, it has provided financial assistance to 4,041 students enrolled in 35 selected State Universities and Colleges (Sucks) under the “Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SSP-PA) with a budget of Phi-million. These students belong to the poorest of the or families identified by the DEWS under its Pantywaist Paying Filipino Program. Further, ACHED provides four-year college education to former rebels and amnesty grantees through the Bandwagons and PANAMA Special Grants-Len-Aid Programs which have already benefited over 800 beneficiaries.
These programs are in coordination with the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (POPPA). Come school year 2014-2015, ACHED is proposing to increase its support to private higher education under the Expanded Private Education Student Financial Assistance (EPEES) Program in the amount of PH-Billion or more than 32,000 slots. This allocation is over and above the requested PH-Billion or approximately 26,000 slots for SSP-PA beneficiaries and students in Sucks.
