Issue: Why College Education Should Be Free For Everyone

Trailblazer: Mr.Erwin Macua

An Accessible Right

“I stand by my belief that education is a right, and it should be given to everyone

unconditionally as the state must give us that,” said Erin Estrada, a college student from the University
of the Philippines in Manila, and a beneficiary from the government’s free tuition program last 2018.
With the economy changing drastically over the years and years to come, prices rose across nations as
far as tuition and getting an education is concerned. As important as a college education is, the cost is
often the first and most important factor faced by people in weighing the value of universities. This has
led to several families across the country to struggle financially and they have to choose whether or not
to send their children to college to pursue a good education. With that being said, I believe that College
education must be free for everyone because it would improve the students’ financial situation and
increase the number of people who can get a college education.

Firstly, if tuition is free, the students’ financial situation will improve. According to the 2016
Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, almost 10 percent of the estimated 39 million Filipinos from six to 24
years old were out-of-school children and youth (OSCY). In light of this, the Philippine government has
implemented the Republic Act No.10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,
which mandates the free tuition and miscellaneous fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs). Under
this law, enrolled college students need not pay for their tuition, miscellaneous, and other similar or
related fees such as the library, computer, athletic, medical fees and more. Additionally, the government
has allocated PHP16 billion for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) for needy students and PHP 1 billion
for the Student Loan Program for the school year 2018-2019. In contrast, this act could be subsidizing
those who can afford to pay college tuition and fees, not the poor. Recently, an infographic by Philippine
Institute for Development Studies showed that giving financial assistance is anti-poor because tuition
comprises only one-third of college education costs. Furthermore, it isn’t a free education since the one
paying for it are the people who pay their taxes with their monthly wages and the big companies. But
even though freeing educational expenses may benefit the rich, it also gives monumental relief to the
poor. Moreover, the learning costs would be shifted to other locations, like a fuel tax or a sales tax,
making it easier to handle the costs of tuition.

Secondly, by negating the large bill of college education, we could see an increase in the number
of students who can attend college. In 2018, the University of the Philippines announced that it received
a spike in applications due to Republic Act No. 10931 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education
Act. It was reported that UPCAT applicants were estimated to have risen to 167,000 this year from
103,000 last year. Meanwhile, several studies from the United States have found that reducing college
costs through both need and merit-based aid programs increases the probability of enrollment from 3.6
to 4 percentage points per additional aid worth $1,000.However, if higher education becomes free, it
might appear to devalue a college degree. Jack A. Chambless, an Economics Professor at Valencia
College said that with a free college program, millions of young people who have no business attending
college would waste their time, money and seeking degrees they won't get. In Norway, only 14 percent
of children from the least-educated families in Norway attend college, compared to 58 percent of
children from the most-educated families despite having the same tuition-free access to college, no
matter their background, according to a 2013 analysis by a Norwegian education researcher, Elisabeth
Hovdhaugen. Nonetheless, with a free college education, everyone can exercise his or her right to learn
and be educated. Everyone will have the opportunity to view this world from a different perspective and
do something on their own.

To remunerate, education is a very important factor in our country as it is one of the best ways to
succeed and a vital tool to improve individuals; but not everyone has access to it. I believe students
should be eligible to receive free college tuition for a plethora of reasons. Free college tuition will help
students with their financial situation and allow everyone to access a college education. Many nations
will be investing in our future leaders, doctors, and educators who will make our world an even better
place to live. This is a promising plan that should be incorporated and sustained. It would be a
transcendent move that would give millions of excellent and aspiring students more opportunities.
What do you think would happen if college tuition continues to rise and many can’t access their right to
education?