The Free College Entrance Examinations Act, now in effect in the Philippines, mandates waiving entrance exam fees in private colleges and universities for eligible students.
Republic Act (RA) 12006 exempts qualified graduates and graduating students from paying fees for entrance exams to private higher education institutions (HEIs).
The Act aligns with the state policy to “democratize access to quality tertiary education” and assist “disadvantaged students that show potential for academic excellence.”
To be eligible for free entrance exams, students must:
- Be natural-born Filipinos.
- Belonging to the top 10% of their class.
- Have a family income below the poverty threshold defined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) or certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).*
- Apply for entrance exams in any private school in the country.
- Satisfy all the requirements of the private school.
*The Philippine Statistics Authority report states the poverty threshold as of 2023 is at PHP13,797.
RA 12006 lapsed into law on June 14, 2024, thirty days after the 19th Congress-approved legislative bill was submitted to the Office of the President without being signed or vetoed. This follows the provision of Article VI Section 27(1) of the Philippine Constitution. The Act took effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette on the same day.
The Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 2441 on December 11, 2023, and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 5001 on March 19, 2024.
The Rules and Regulations to effectively implement the provisions of the Free College Entrance Examinations Act are expected to be made public by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and in consultation with the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines, or its equivalent institution, within 60 days from June 14.
CHED is authorized to impose sanctions on schools that do not comply with the law.
State colleges and universities such as the University of the Philippines and Polytechnic University of the Philippines already do not charge exam fees and offer tuition-free education for Filipinos.
Another recent law increased the teaching supplies allowance for public school teachers.
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