Dear PAO,
Because of my perseverance, I graduated with highest honors from my senior high school class, even though my family is poor. I want to study at a well-known private university. God has been good because someone is willing to help pay for my tuition, but I need to pass the entrance examination first. Is it possible for me to take the entrance examination for free? Please help clarify this matter. Thank you.
Diyanne
Dear Diyanne,
The development of the education sector is one of the main priorities of our government. Because of this, the government is striving to reform the management of colleges to make them more inclusive relative to the needs of underprivileged students. For this purpose, our State passed Republic Act (RA) 12006, also known as the Free College Entrance Examinations Act, which states:
“Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to democratize access to quality tertiary education. In line with this declared policy, and in cognizance of the need to assist disadvantaged students that show potential for academic excellence, the State shall exempt qualified graduates and graduating students from payment of entrance examination fees administered by private higher education institutions (HEIs).”
In accordance with this provision, qualified graduates and graduating students are no longer required to pay the entrance examination fees of private colleges and universities.
To answer your question, a student may be exempted from paying the entrance examination fees if it can be proven that he or she meets the qualifications stated in Section 5 of the said Act:
“Section 5. Eligibility Requirements. - A graduate or graduating student shall be eligible for the waiver of college entrance examination fees and charges upon the satisfaction of the following qualification and requirements:
“(a) The graduate or graduating student must be a natural-born Filipino citizen;
“(b) The graduate or graduating student must belong to the top ten percent (10%) of his or her graduating class;
“(c) The graduate or graduating student must belong to a family whose combined household income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority or cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide for their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing and other essential amenities of life duly certified as such by the Department of Social Welfare and Development;
“(d) The graduate or graduating student must apply for college entrance examination to any private HEI within the country; and
“(e) The graduate or graduating students must satisfy all other requirements as specified by the private HEI concerned.”
It is required that the student, whether a graduate or graduating, be a natural-born Filipino citizen; belong to the top ten percent of their class based on academic performance; and come from a family whose combined income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority, or who, based on certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, is unable to meet their family’s basic needs such as food, health care, education, housing, and others.
It is also required that the graduate or graduating student has applied to take an entrance examination at any private university in the Philippines and meets all other requirements set by the school.
We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice was based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net.
