The government should consider prioritizing students taking up science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses in the free college education system to boost the country’s workforce especially in the area of health and education.

Senator Pia S. Cayetano (Senate PRIB Photo)

Sen. Pia Cayetano offered this suggestion on Thursday, September 7 saying she finds merit to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s proposal for a review of the free college education law or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which the latter said is unsustainable, inefficient and wasteful.

Cayetano, senior vice chair of the Senate finance committee handling the education and health and as a member of the Education Commission (EDCOM) II, it is imperative for the government to identify priority courses that would spur the country’s economic and social growth.

“I find merit in the positions of both Finance Secretary Ben Diokno and CHEd (Commission on Higher Education) Chairman Prospero De Vera in the ongoing debate about revisiting our free tertiary education program,” Cayetano said in a statement.

“It is true that we have to allocate our limited public funds judiciously, and that we must also support deserving students with academic potential and those with no financial means. It is also a fact that education is considered the 'great enabler.' But what must be done is for us to identify the priority courses that will spur economic and social growth,” she explained.

The fact that the country is experiencing a shortage of healthcare professionals, not just doctors and nurses, “but the entire range of allied medical professions, such as pharmacists, physical therapists, radiologic technologists, and others,” warrants a review of the free college education system, she said.

The senator also said that aside from scholarships and financial assistance, there is a need to provide funding for state universities and colleges (SUCs) to help them expand and upgrade their facilities and ensure the development of their faculty members

“In the same vein, we have to support education courses to enable us to produce quality teachers in different areas of study, including STEM, as well as para teachers to complement our pool of teaching personnel,” Cayetano said.

The lawmaker added there is also a need to employ more mental health associates and specialists in the basic education sector as defined in the new bill that the Senate has just passed.

“In summary, for me it's quite simple. We will continue supporting the financial assistance to students, but we need to prioritize the courses that would have a direct contribution to economic and social development,” she said.

“I believe that this is the most sensible, cost-efficient, and sustainable development model for our state tertiary education program,” added Cayetano.