Finance Secretary Ralph Recto wants to spend more on education, even considering the expansion of the free tertiary education program.
This is in contrast with his predecessor’s proposal to revisit the program last year, then pointing out that the present regime of tuition-free college education in state universities and colleges (SUCs) is “unwieldy, inefficient and wasteful.”
“I sponsored that, I authored that. I think we should expand it, anything about education,” Recto told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Manila last Tuesday.
Further asked if he is referring to the expansion only of the free higher education program, Recto said, “education in general.”
“Of course, it’s a mix between where do we spend it, in the primary, secondary, tertiary? There’s always gonna be that debate but what is important is we spend more on education,” the finance chief said.
Otherwise known as Republic Act 10931, the Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Act is a law that formalizes zero-cost education and waivers of additional charges in SUCs as well as local universities and colleges.
Last week, the Department of Budget and Management approved the issuance of a special allotment release order amounting to P3.41 billion for the implementation of the UAQTE.
Approximately 74,262 learners for the UAQTE program for the school year 2024 will benefit from the allocated P3.41 billion fund, which covers tuition and miscellaneous fees, accident insurance, trainee provision, internet allowance, starter tool kits, national assessment fees and other school charges.
Asked if the government has the fiscal space for a possible expansion on education spending, Recto said: “Yes, I think so. Of course, if we can do more, why not? I think we should make space for that, and I think it’s the most important investment.”
“No matter how much infrastructure you build, it’s the people who will be using that infrastructure productively so if they’re not educated, how will they use it productively?” the finance chief said.
In September last year, former Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the core of his proposal to revisit the present free college education is how to optimally allocate resources funded largely by taxpayers for education.
“Government resources funded by taxpayers’ money, by nature are finite. The present regime is unwieldy, inefficient and wasteful. An indicator of wastefulness is the rising dropout rate. The proposed reform also aims to reduce the threat to the robust private school system,” Diokno then said.
Diokno had proposed to strengthen the K-12 program; filter through a nationwide test those who should be entitled to free education; allow those who passed the nationwide exam and are entitled to “free” education to use their entitlement to enter or reject their assigned state university, and if the latter, choose an accredited private university; and reduce the number of existing SUCs over time through mergers.
