Licuanan hit over remark on SUC free tuition policy

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Patricia Licuanan has drawn criticism following her remark that the free tuition policy in state universities and colleges (SUCs) will not benefit the poor.

CHED commissioner Prospero de Vera said the P8-billion allotment to remove tuition in 114 state schools is a necessary first step in fulfilling President Duterte’s election promise to help the poor get university education.

He dubbed Licuanan’s remark as insensitive and elitist, citing the demand for access to and equity in higher education by many Filipinos.

“CHED officials have been asserting that the national government should increase investments in higher education. Now that the national leadership has added P8 billion for higher education, I find it surprising and even ironic that the CHED leadership says it is insufficient and won’t help poor students,” De Vera said.

“Instead of questioning the impact of the new appropriation of poor students, CHED should immediately draft the implementing rules and regulations of the P8-billion fund and make sure it is linked with all other student financial assistance funds available in the CHED,” he added.

In a television interview, Licuanan said the free tuition policy would not benefit the poor as only eight percent of college students belong to poor families.

“The poorest of the poor are not yet in college. They have been knocked out long ago and enrollment of the poorest quintile in higher education is only eight percent. So it’s not going to benefit the poor,” she said.

She also expressed support for any policy that will expand access to quality education, but noted that they have to address concerns over the implementation of the free tuition policy.

But according to De Vera, the infusion to the 2017 budget will still help 150,000 poor students if the eight percent figure presented by Licuanan is correct.

“The new funding will also alert more students from poor households that they can enroll in universities,” he noted. “Besides, what was the basis to say that only eight percent of the poor are enrolled in higher education? How is ‘poor’ defined?”

De Vera, the first appointee of Duterte to the CHED, said the allocation should not be seen as a stand-alone fund to help the students.

He cited around P5.75 billion worth of allocation for scholarships and financial assistance to poor students.

“This will ensure that on top of the free tuition, students can also get the much needed stipends for their day-to-day needs in time for the June opening of classes,” he said.