While local universities and colleges may have little choice other than to raise tuition to cope with rising costs and demands for higher pay from their teaching staff and personnel, students now have the option to shop around, so to speak, for schools that can accommodate them and their budget.
No thanks to the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), everything went up except for the salaries and benefits, which businesses, and now schools, will have to pass on to the average income earner through pricier products and higher tuition, respectively.
How the national government would distribute taxpayers funds to fulfill its pledge for free education to underprivileged students based on Republic Act 10931 remains to be seen but its success stems from the commitment of all parties to comply with set requirements.
For students, that would mean submitting documents and school records showing that their parents or guardians earn well below the annual minimum household income or the income needed to sustain themselves.
For schools, that would also mean setting up facilities to enable their students to train for their courses.
Because as much as militant student groups and the public demand free education, funds for this purpose are not easily secured and are not unlimited.
That would mean either the student seeking state sponsorship for his or her high school or college education should be prepared for either partial assistance or a rejection of their petition since not everyone can be accommodated.
And the fortunate recipients should hopefully be those who are underprivileged but have a real shot at completing their education.
This option is recognized by a lot of private schools now hence their hesitation to raise tuition beyond the capacity of most middle income households to pay.
For while education may be a right for everyone, state funds are not unlimited and should not be wasted on those loafing around or worse, those who can afford to finish school on their own resources but choose to exploit government assistance at the expense of taxpayers and those who need it most.
It’s no coincidence that local governments place a premium on education and a sizable chunk of their budget is set aside for scholarships as seen in Cebu City Hall’s scholarship program which is funded by among other things, the revenue earned from the South Road Properties (SRP).
Again, high tuition rates remain a reality and universal education is still a pipe dream. But it should not stop local governments from doing what it can to institute initiatives aimed at extending free education or even partial educational aid to their constituents.
Acquiring an education may be difficult as the years go by but it is not impossible if one knows where to look for both opportunities and resources not just from the government but the private sector, which should also ramp up its efforts to provide education for the poor and deserving.