'Hope and victory': CHED launches initiative on inclusive higher education


Recognizing the challenges that many Filipino students face in completing their tertiary education, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) launched an initiative on Monday, Feb. 12, aimed at championing quality, equity, and inclusivity in higher education.

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(MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) 

“The initiative we're launching this year aims to acknowledge our achievements in higher education and chart a path forward,” said CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera during the launch of "Paglaum kag Pagdaug."

“Paglaum kag Pagdaug,” De Vera explained, are Hiligaynon words for hope and victory. The initiative seeks to provide "hope and victory to disadvantaged higher education students, improving their quality of life."

“That’s why our banner theme this year is access and success for quality and inclusive education,” De Vera added.

The initiative will focus on a study of admission and retention in select public universities.

“We want to examine the admission systems of universities in three regions,” De Vera explained.

A total of 20 higher education institutions (HEIs) will participate in the study: five universities in Region 1, 10 universities in Region VIII, and five universities in Region XII.

“We’re going to study the admission and retention systems of these universities, finding out who takes the admission test, their socio-economic profile, and who gets admitted,” De Vera explained.

De Vera said that one objective of the study is to determine if the admission systems in the participating schools "disproportionally disadvantage" certain sectors.

If so, the study will guide universities in improving their admission systems to enable more students, including those from public schools, rural areas, indigenous communities, and children of rebel returnees, to gain admission.

The study also aims to assess the support systems available for disadvantaged students and evaluate if the necessary services are provided for them.

De Vera explained that the study also aims to identify reasons for student dropouts and propose measures universities can take to help students complete their education.