More university-aged students are now enrolled in Philippine universities and colleges due to free higher education program, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Monday, Sept. 18, said.
“We've increased that (university-aged participation) to 41 percent because of free higher education,” CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said in English and Filipino in a public briefing.
The participation rate, De Vera said, refers to the “percentage of university-aged students who are actually enrolled in universities.”
“This means that the message to them is clear: you can now afford to study, you can afford to pursue your education, and you can make it to graduation,” he added.
De Vera also explained that from 32 percent, the number of university-aged participation rate increased to 41 percent.
"Kaya naman, napakaraming gustong mag-enroll (that's why there are so many who want to enroll)," De Vera noted.
Quality education
Due to a significant increase in the data, De Vera pointed out that access to education is no “longer a problem.”
"Yung access, hindi na issue yan, ibig-sabihin, accessible ang free higher education (Access is no longer a problem; this means that free higher education is accessible)," he said.
"What we need to ensure now is access to quality education," he added.
De Vera also emphasized that the government's investments have led to positive results in licensure examinations and improved the international rankings of various Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs).
Last August, Samar State University (SSU) topped the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) for two consecutive years under the Fourth Industrial Revolution category.
READ:
"There are more private and public universities that are participating in international rankings,” De Vera said. “They subject themselves to international ranking,” he added.
Moreover, De Vera noted that from 15 universities from the Philippines in international rankings when he first arrived at CHED, the number has risen to 52, as reported by President Marcos in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"The President reported during his SONA that there are now 52 Philippine universities that have achieved international rankings," De Vera added.