MANILA, Philippines – The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) expressed concern over the “alarmingly high” rates of tertiary students dropping out, despite the Philippine government offering free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
The higher education attrition or dropout rate is at 39% nationally, EDCOM 2 said in its Year Two Report released on Monday, January 27.
But the figures are far bleaker for certain regions: 93.4% in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 60.7% in Central Visayas, 59.5% in the Zamboanga Peninsula, 54.9% in the Cordillera Administrative Region, 52.4% in Metro Manila, 51.2% in Soccsksargen, and 50.2% in Western Visayas.
In a Rappler Talk interview on Tuesday, January 28, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Yee said the high attrition rates call for the government to review the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
“We can’t just make sure that there’s equity in access. There should be equity in completion. That we are not just letting them be accepted in a school or have the opportunity to go to school. We need to make sure they finish,” he said.
Yee cited two main reasons why college students are dropping out — lack of engagement and the need to work.
“Ang pinaka-problem talaga diyan is opportunity cost. Kung ang bata, may tuition ka nga, pero mas malaki ang kikitain kung nagtrabaho na siya. Marami sa kanila, nagtatrabaho,” he said.
(The real problem there is opportunity cost. Even if the student has free tuition, they could earn more if they start working. A lot of them are working.)
The landmark Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, passed in 2017, provides free tuition for students of the country’s more than 100 SUCs. Then-president Rodrigo Duterte signed the law despite his economic managers saying that the government did not have enough funds to sustain it. (READ: 8 things you need to know about the free tuition law)
Yee said providing free tuition is not enough to ensure students finish college, as the daily costs of attending school are also a burden.
“What we really need to do is, one, siguruhin natin na ‘yung support na binibigay natin sa mga mahihirap, the poor students…hindi lang siya pang-tuition. Dapat sapat siya sa lahat ng gastusin ng bata kung gusto natin matapos talaga sila,” he told Rappler.
(What we really need to do is, one, ensure that the support we provide to poor students is not just for tuition. It should be enough to cover all of their expenses if we really want them to finish their studies.)
The EDCOM 2 executive director also said the Philippines should make sure that higher education in the country is “porous,” meaning students who drop out can return whenever they want. In most cases, he noted, students are doing part-time work to help their families with finances.
“You know, in other education systems, they can really go back anytime. I think we need to be more flexible when it comes to higher education options we provide,” Yee said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“It shouldn’t be rigid where you’re in high school, then you enter college for four years and graduate. We need to accept the reality that the context for today’s youth is that some might need to work, but hopefully, they can also go back to school. There should be night classes or Saturday classes available,” he added.
You can access the full Year Two Report here. – Rappler.com
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