An Act Promoting Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education by Providing for Free Tuition and Other School Fees in State Universities and Colleges, Local Universities and Colleges and...
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An Act Promoting Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education by Providing for Free Tuition and Other School Fees in State Universities and Colleges, Local Universities and Colleges and...
Republic Act No. 10931
August 2, 2017
Case Overview and Summary
Summary of Republic Act No. 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act)Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
• Quality education is an inalienable right of all Filipinos.
• The State shall take steps to make tertiary education accessible to all.
• The State recognizes the roles of public and private higher education institutions.
Free Higher Education in SUCs and LUCs (Section 4):
• All Filipino students enrolled in bachelor's degree, certificate degree, or undergraduate degree programs in SUCs and LUCs are exempt from paying tuition and other school fees.
• Students must pass the admission and retention requirements of the SUCs and LUCs.
• SUCs and LUCs shall create a mechanism for students with financial capacity to opt out of the subsidy or make contributions.
• The amount required for free tuition and other school fees shall be determined by the governing boards of SUCs and LUCs based on projected enrollees.
Free TVET in Post-Secondary TVIs (Section 5):
• All Filipino students enrolled in post-secondary TVET programs leading to non-degree certificates or diplomas in state-run TVIs under TESDA are exempt from paying tuition and other school fees.
• State-run TVIs shall create a mechanism for students with financial capacity to opt out of the subsidy or make contributions.
• The amount required for free tuition and other school fees shall be determined by the governing board of TESDA based on projected enrollees.
Exceptions to Free Tertiary Education (Section 6):
• Students who have already attained a bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree are ineligible in SUCs and LUCs.
• Students who fail to comply with admission and retention policies of SUCs and LUCs are ineligible.
• Students who fail to complete their bachelor's degree within a year after the prescribed period are ineligible in SUCs and LUCs.
• Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or a certificate/diploma equivalent to at least National Certificate III and above are ineligible in state-run TVIs.
• Students who fail in any course enrolled in during the program are ineligible in state-run TVIs.
Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) for Filipino Students (Section 7):
• A TES is established for all Filipino students enrolled in undergraduate programs of SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and all TVIs.
• The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and funded through the budgets of CHED and TESDA.
• Prioritization shall be given to students from households included in the Listahanan 2.0, ranked by per capita household income.
• The TES may cover tuition and other school fees in private HEIs and TVIs, allowances for books, supplies, transportation, miscellaneous expenses, room and board, expenses related to disability, and one-time cost of obtaining professional credentials.
Student Loan Program for Tertiary Education (Section 8):
• A student loan program for tertiary education is established for Filipino students enrolled in SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and TVET programs in TVIs.
• The loan program shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and funded through the budgets of CHED and TESDA.
• The UniFAST may offer short-term or long-term loans.
• Students who availed of the loan during their undergraduate degree may avail of another loan for graduate studies, including medicine and law, after fully paying the previous loan.
• Students who did not avail of the loan during their undergraduate studies may avail of it for graduate studies, including medicine and law, or for review expenses for licensure examinations.
• Repayment shall be effected by incorporating a portion of the loan amount or a percentage thereof in the employee's monthly SSS or GSIS contribution.
• The UniFAST Board shall formulate loan payment guidelines for those not covered by SSS or GSIS, including OFWs, emigrants, and self-employed persons and professionals.
Requirements for SUCs and LUCs (Section 9):
• SUCs and LUCs shall establish a learner information system in accordance with CHED guidelines.
• SUCs and LUCs shall submit relevant information on school quality and performance to CHED.
• SUCs and LUCs shall formulate and submit to CHED and the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee a detailed SUC development plan updated every ten (10) years.
Quality Standard for SUC and LUC Budgets, TES and Student Loan Programs (Section 10):
• CHED and TESDA shall ensure quality standards in the review and endorsement of the budget of SUCs, LUCs, and state-run TVIs, respectively.
• The detailed design of the TES and student loan programs shall also be subject to quality indicators defined by the UniFAST Board.
Prohibited Act and Penalties (Sections 11 and 12):
• It is unlawful for any person, SUC, or state-run TVI to collect tuition and other school fees from qualified students who voluntarily opt out of the subsidy or make contributions.
• Violation of the prohibited act shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year, or a fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (₱20,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (₱100,000.00), or both.
Expansion of the UniFAST Board (Section 13):
• The UniFAST Board shall be expanded to include the President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, the Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations, the President of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities, the President of the GSIS (as a non-voting member), and the President of the SSS (as a non-voting member).
• The UniFAST Board is authorized to establish an enhanced organizational structure, staff development and incentives, and other administrative measures for efficient discharge of tasks.
Reporting Requirements (Section 14):
• All SUCs, LUCs, and state-run TVIs shall submit to CHED and TESDA, respectively, within five (5) days after the last day of late registration for each semester, a report detailing the names of students eligible for free tuition and other school fees.
Appropriations (Section 15):
• The amounts necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) and appropriated under SUCs, CHED, and TESDA.
• An amount equivalent to not more than three percent (3%) of the TES and student loan program may be used as administrative cost under the UniFAST.
Other Sources of Funds (Section 16):
• The national government is authorized to prioritize funding this measure in negotiating and utilizing long-term deeply concessional official development assistance (ODA).
• Other sources of funds such as grants, donations, collections, and other forms of assistance from local and foreign donors or other public or private entities may be tapped and facilitated by the UniFAST Board.
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Universal Access to Tertiary Education (Section 17):
• A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is created to oversee, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of the Act.
• The Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives, including the Chairpersons of the relevant committees.
Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 18):
• Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of the Act, the UniFAST Board, in consultation with CHED, TESDA, and other relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations.
Separability Clause (Section 19):
• If any part of the Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Repealing Clause (Section 20):
• All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, implementing rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of the Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity (Section 21):
• The Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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An Act Promoting Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education by Providing for Free Tuition and Other School Fees in State Universities and Colleges, Local Universities and Colleges and...
Republic Act No. 10931
•August 2, 2017
Republic of the PhilippinesCONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINESMetro Manila
Seventeenth CongressFirst Regular Session
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-fifth day of July, two thousand sixteen.
REPUBLIC ACT No. 10931
AN ACT PROMOTING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION BY PROVIDING FOR FREE TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND STATE-RUN TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ESTABLISHING THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY AND STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM, STRENGTHENING THE UNIFIED STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION, AND APPROPRIATING FUND THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate House of Representatives of Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act".
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared that quality education is an inalienable right of all Filipinos and it is the policy of the State to protect and promote the rights of all students to quality education at all levels. Therefore, the State shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to...
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