An Evaluation of the 2017 Free Tuition Policy IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE CASE OF DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY

Prof. Julius M. Velasco (Don Honorio Ventura State University)

Quality education at all levels is one of the foundations of sustainable development. Last August 3, 2017, the Republic Act 10931 also known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education was enacted. It is anchored on the government’s priority thrust of poverty alleviation and is aimed at providing all Filipinos with equal opportunity to quality tertiary education. Prior to its enactment, President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration had already implemented an initial run of providing ‘universal’ access to tertiary education referred to as the ‘2017 Free Tuition Policy in State Universities and Colleges.’ The purpose of this paper is to assess how this policy had been carried out administratively. A Qualitative Research was conducted which assessed the administrative efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of its implementation. Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU), a state university in Pampanga mandated to provide advanced instruction and professional training in education, engineering, science and technology, arts and humanities, computer and other relevant fields of study, was used as a case study. The findings show that the provisions of the policy are administratively feasible despite the challenges encountered. A conclusion of the different lessons of DHVSU's implementation of the policy is presented, thereby, recommending different administrative policies that can be considered to ensure the successful implementation of universal access to quality tertiary education in the Philippines.

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