DAGUPAN CITY -- Senator Sonny Angara has urged students and out-of-school youth in the province to take advantage of the government’s free college education program this academic school year.
Angara, who joined this city’s Festivals of the North on Friday, said in a press conference there is no more reason for students from lower-income families not to get a college diploma since the government subsidy will cover not only tuition but also other school expenses as mandated by the free college law.
He said Republic Act (RA) 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which he co-authored with an initial funding of PHP40 billion, will cover tuition, miscellaneous and other school fees of students enrolled in 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs), 78 local universities and colleges (LUCs) and all technical-vocation education and training (TVET) programs registered under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
“Students from the province may enroll at the Pangasinan State University, University of Eastern Pangasinan, Urdaneta City University and Binalatongan Community College,” Angara said.
The senator added RA 10931 also provides the creation of tertiary education subsidy, which will cover allowance for books, supplies, transportation, room and board, personal computer or laptop and other education-related personal expenses of poor students.
“The subsidy will also provide financial support for the tuition and other fees of poor students enrolled in private colleges and universities,” he said.
Angara pointed out the free college law is expected to improve college graduation rates, as fewer students would feel the need to drop to part-time status or take a break from education for financial reasons.
“The country could see an increase in the amount of students able to attend college and a drop in the number of out-of-school youth,” he said. (PNA)
