The Effect of the Tuition and Other Fees Increase and the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program on the Duty of the University of the Philippines as a State University

Abstract

An evaluative study into the recent implementation of the Tuition and Other Fees Increase and the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance program in the University of the Philippines and its effect on the University’s duty as a State University has been performed through a freshmen survey, interviews and analysis of various secondary sources. The study focuses primarily on the capacity of UP to fulfill its duty of providing democratized access, i.e. accessible yet quality education, to the Filipino youth. In line with this, the data has shown a decrease in the freshmen enrollment turn-out for the Academic Year 2007-2008, upon the implementation of the TOFI and the STFAP Rebracketing. Because of the 300% increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees, majority of students whose family’s annual income is PhP80,000 to PhP130,000 have shrugged off the option in having a State University education. The research has shown that students whose family income falls in this income bracket experience the major effects of the said measures. Freshmen Enrollment Turn-Out in the University of the Philippines- Manila which is the selected locale of the study has also dropped, the College of Dentistry as having the largest percentage drop. Behind the implementation of the TOFI and the STFAP Re-bracketing is the problem of insufficient state subsidy. The state, which is obliged to allocate funds for education, especially for the State Universities and Colleges, has failed to do so. UP has resorted to the implementation of these schemes despite the numerous income-generating alternative measures. The implemented programs are then deemed as inefficient and have hindered the University of the Philippines from complying to its duty as a State University.