CHED creates mechanism for financially capable students to contribute to schools
By AJ Siytangco
Published Mar 22, 2018 05:49 pm
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
College students who have the financial capability to pay for their education may voluntarily opt out of the subsidy being offered by the government through the Free Higher Education or make a "contribution" to the public educational institution they will enroll in, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said.
CHED Officer-in-Charge and Spokesperson J. Prospero De Vera III said that all State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) and CHED-recognized Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) are required to “create a mechanism to enable students with financial capacity to pay for their education and voluntarily opt out of the subsidy for tuition and other school fees.”
CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera III
(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN) This, De Vera said, is stipulated in the Enhanced Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education” (UAQTEA). Under Section 8 of the IRR, it was noted that students may avail of the opt-out option should they choose to do so. As stated in the IRR, “the decision of the student to voluntarily opt out must be made during the enrollment period for each semester/term and shall be considered final and irrevocable for that particular semester/term.” However, “students who will opt out will be allowed to change their decision in subsequent semesters/terms.” The students who will voluntarily opt out of the free higher education provision “shall pay during the enrollment period an amount equivalent to the assessed tuition and other schools fees which shall be based on the policy of composite fees” formulated by the “Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board. “Students who choose to voluntarily opt out of the provision shall sign and submit a waiver to the SUC or LUC they are enrolling in,” the IRR said. Meanwhile, the SUC or LUC shall then develop a “pro-forma waiver” bearing a statement certifying that the student “made the choice voluntarily and not under duress”; the academic period; the signature of the student or the parent if student is minor and certification or acceptance by the registrar or guidance counselor. Those students who will successfully opt-out of the free higher education provision during a semester or term “shall be exempt from the civic obligation during the same semester/term.” Earlier, De Vera said that all those who will avail of the UAQTEA will be required to render service under the “Return Service System” feature of the RA 10931. Beneficiaries will have to complete their return service while they are still students based on the requirements of the SUC or LUC. Meanwhile, those students – who are willing to avail of the free higher education despite having financial capability to pay for their education – may also choose to contribute a particular amount to the SUC or LUC. Under the Section 9 of the IRR, all SUCs and LUCs recognized by CHED are mandated to “create a mechanism to enable students with the financial capacity to pay for their education to voluntarily contribute a particular financial amount to the SUC or LUC while availing themselves of the free higher education provision.” Just like in the opt-out option, “the decision of the student to pay any amount as voluntary contribution to the school must be made during the enrollment period for each semester/term and shall be considered final and irrevocable for that particular semester/term” and “students who will opt out will be allowed to change their decision in subsequent semesters/terms.” The UAQTEA will be fully implemented this AY 2018-2019 with Php 40 billion allocation from the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera III(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN) This, De Vera said, is stipulated in the Enhanced Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education” (UAQTEA). Under Section 8 of the IRR, it was noted that students may avail of the opt-out option should they choose to do so. As stated in the IRR, “the decision of the student to voluntarily opt out must be made during the enrollment period for each semester/term and shall be considered final and irrevocable for that particular semester/term.” However, “students who will opt out will be allowed to change their decision in subsequent semesters/terms.” The students who will voluntarily opt out of the free higher education provision “shall pay during the enrollment period an amount equivalent to the assessed tuition and other schools fees which shall be based on the policy of composite fees” formulated by the “Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board. “Students who choose to voluntarily opt out of the provision shall sign and submit a waiver to the SUC or LUC they are enrolling in,” the IRR said. Meanwhile, the SUC or LUC shall then develop a “pro-forma waiver” bearing a statement certifying that the student “made the choice voluntarily and not under duress”; the academic period; the signature of the student or the parent if student is minor and certification or acceptance by the registrar or guidance counselor. Those students who will successfully opt-out of the free higher education provision during a semester or term “shall be exempt from the civic obligation during the same semester/term.” Earlier, De Vera said that all those who will avail of the UAQTEA will be required to render service under the “Return Service System” feature of the RA 10931. Beneficiaries will have to complete their return service while they are still students based on the requirements of the SUC or LUC. Meanwhile, those students – who are willing to avail of the free higher education despite having financial capability to pay for their education – may also choose to contribute a particular amount to the SUC or LUC. Under the Section 9 of the IRR, all SUCs and LUCs recognized by CHED are mandated to “create a mechanism to enable students with the financial capacity to pay for their education to voluntarily contribute a particular financial amount to the SUC or LUC while availing themselves of the free higher education provision.” Just like in the opt-out option, “the decision of the student to pay any amount as voluntary contribution to the school must be made during the enrollment period for each semester/term and shall be considered final and irrevocable for that particular semester/term” and “students who will opt out will be allowed to change their decision in subsequent semesters/terms.” The UAQTEA will be fully implemented this AY 2018-2019 with Php 40 billion allocation from the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA).