The effects of commercialization of education on the electoral preferences of scholarship grantees in SUCs of Bulacan.

Abstract

The study delves on the possibility of schoarship grants being used as an avenue of political patronage. Because of the application of neoliberal policis in a developing country like the Philippines, the delivery of basic social services is compromised; one of which, education, is being commercialized. Even in SUCs, which are supposedly state-funded, income-generating schemes are applied to offset the deficiency in state subsidy. This leads to increase in tuition fees which are then shouldered by the students. Scholarship grants are thus needed, which public officials are more than happy to provide as these may give them a chance to foster utang na loob among those who will benefit. This value that is seemingly inherent in Filipinos may help perpetuate patronage politics that continue to plague the country. There are other factors in one's electoral preferences but the study focuses on self-interest, relating it further to the value of utang na loob as part of the Filipino political culture.