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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate bill seeks to institutionalize free college entrance exams to deserving poor students

Senate bill seeks to institutionalize free college entrance exams to deserving poor students

Published Jan 29, 2023 10:38 am

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has filed a bill mandating private higher educational institutions (HEIs) to waive college entrace fees to top, yet performing underprivileged students.

Go, in filing Senate Bill No. 1708 or the “Free College Entrance Examinations Act of 2023, said the benefit should go to underprivileged graduating high school students and high school graduates belonging to the academic top 10 of their graduating class and are applying for college admission.

“Let us help widen the opportunities of our underprivileged youth especially the best and the brightest,” Go said in a statement.

“Ang edukasyon ang tanging puhunan natin sa mundong ito. Ito rin ang susi sa mas maginhawang kinabukasan. Bigyan natin ng oportunidad at insentibo ang ating kabataan na mag-aral ng mabuti para mailayo sila sa masasamang bisyo at bilang kapalit na rin sa paghihirap ng kanilang mga magulang na pag-aralin sila (Education is our only investment in this world. This is also the key to a more convenient future. Let's give our youth the opportunity and incentive to study hard so that they can stay away from bad habits and in exchange for their parents' suffering to educate them),” he stressed.

Under the measure, those who are eligible as beneficiary are only natural-born Filipino citizens, a graduating high school student or a high school graduate who belongs to the academic top 10 of their graduating class and seeks to be admitted to a private HEIs within the country.

The student must also belong to a family whose combined income falls below the poverty threshold, as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

If passed into law, Go said it would expand and further democratize access to quality college education especially in private HEIs.

“The exemption from the imposition of entrance examination fees is one such mechanism that shall give adequate assistance and equal opportunity to these students to pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education,” he said.

Related Tags

Bong Go deped education free college entrance exam higher educational institutions (HEIs)
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