[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’ABOVE THE LAW ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY AYIN DREAM D. APLASCA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Friday, Agusto 4, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
The ‘promised’ program
I KNOW someone who stopped attending school because of lack of financial support for his education. He just crossed his fingers that his family’s small business can support their daily needs.
When the news broke out about the free college tuition fee, he and his family decided to send him to school next school year. Of course, my friend was very excited and you can see the optimism in his eyes.
I believe almost all of us want to finish school and give our family the best life we could offer. However, education is not, as what we expect it to be, free. It is a privilege for the chosen few.
Yes, my friend was very excited. But just few days ago, a party-list group denounced the Duterte administration’s discontinuance of funds intended for free higher education in its budget proposal for the year 2018.
A lot of people, like my friend, are anxious about having a degree. They wished to have free education, to abolish tuition fees, to fight the cuts in the education sector, and to challenge the business of education.
Why are they so engrossed about a college degree? Because when speaking about education, more particularly college education, we are speaking about the future of the world.
The biggest reason why college should be free is because of the huge tuition cost. The aim should be the promotion of liberal and practical education in the several pursuits and professions in life. There is also a growing number of work opportunities requiring college degree.
Another reason is for the benefit of the world’s innovation. When more people are given the chance to have free tuition fees, there will be a bigger chance of advancement in technology and expansion of proficiency.
Lastly, there will be equality among people. Having free college tuition and achieving a degree, a lot of people would be able to attain the desired credentials. Everyone will get the chance to excel and advance in education level.
However, I still have second thoughts about this. Free tuition in college? The government should remember that the poorest of the poor is not yet in college. The “promised” program should benefit all. Of course, making tuition for free cannot be done overnight. But I believe the government has the capacity to do something to make this feasible. They could increase tax rates and minimize government spending. Or whatever permissible way out it can offer.
When all of these are realized, it is not only a victory for the youth but for the entire nation.
(Atty. Ayin Dream D. Aplasca practices her profession in Iloilo City. She may be reached thru ayindream.aplasca@gmail.com/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
