EDITORIAL - Free tertiary education

Despite concerns raised by his economic team, President Duterte signed the other night a law mandating free tuition in all state universities and colleges. Republic Act 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, is expected to be implemented in 112 SUCs in the next school year in 2018.

Economic managers had cautioned the President about the amount needed to finance the law, which also exempts students from paying miscellaneous fees in SUCs. Budget officials placed the funding requirement at a hefty P100 billion. But the Commission on Higher Education placed the initial amount at a more manageable P16 billion, which probably helped persuade the President to sign RA 10931 into law.

The funding concern, however, cannot be ignored. Economic managers have stressed that the war in Marawi and other expenditures in national defense and law enforcement have been a significant drain on public funds. The government is also providing free kindergarten and two more years of basic education under the K to 12 program. Both Malacañang and Congress must make sure there will be enough funds to support the free tertiary education program.

For many years now, other Asian countries have invested heavily in education to boost national competitiveness and productivity. The amounts appropriated for education in the Philippines pale in comparison, despite the constitutional provision requiring the allocation of the largest chunk of the national budget to education. K to 12 and now RA 10931 are among the measures to help the nation catch up.

Providing sufficient funds is not enough; the government must give meaning to the title of the new law, which is the provision of “quality” tertiary education. This program is an investment in the nation’s most precious resource. Quality education empowers people and levels the playing field; it is one of the best tools for poverty alleviation, social equity and inclusive growth. There should be no compromise on the quality of the services provided under RA 10931. Free must not mean substandard.