If you’re a parent worrying for your child’s college tuition, here’s some good news for you.
On July 11, University of the Philippines Diliman’s (UPD) Chancellor Michael Tan declared that there will be no collection for tuition and miscellaneous fees for academic year 2017 to 2018.
The declaration was in response to the reconciled version of Senate Bill 1304 and House Bill 5633, which was approved last May. This bill grants free college education in all state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) in the country. Free college education has been one of the major platforms during President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign, and with this current action from the Philippines’ most notable state university, it looks like this is one promise the controversial president can actually keep.
Tan has since been reported to further explain the reason behind his declaration. He clarified that the free tuition policy will hold for the upcoming school year until the government clarifies the qualifiers for the free college education bill.
“There will be no collection of tuition until government is clear about their plan. They are not clear yet as to how much subsidy there will be: partial or complete, and who will be eligible. Until they clarify, we will not collect any amount from students,” he said.
However, Tan also reminds the students and guardians that those who wish to avail of free tuition “will still have to submit proper documentation, as the CHED-DBM guidelines require for UP to be reimbursed.”
Meanwhile, the university’s students are celebrating the good news in social media. Here are some of the best responses to this so far.
There are some who are hoping that this is the start for something greater.
whole up system na next
whole up system na next
whole up system na next
whole up system na next#FreeEducationNow— kyle (@denevolencee) July 11, 2017
This succinct breakdown by a girl’s optimistic economist boyfriend
When you have an economist for a boyfriend #FreeEducationNow pic.twitter.com/TH8STHPKGU
— Therese Palillo (@palillonstitch) July 11, 2017
Then, there’s this one twitter user who just can’t contain their joy.
me when the student movement proves once again that everything can be achieved through collective action #freeeducationnow pic.twitter.com/UVMDmzQj6M
— *sun bak’s dog* (@dardarjinx) July 11, 2017
Photos courtesy of inquirer.net
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