Great news for Filipino students looking to pursue higher education! Republic Act 12006, also known as the Free College Entrance Examinations Act, has recently become law. This act aims to provide financial assistance to deserving students by mandating private universities and colleges to waive college entrance exam fees for qualified applicants.
Here's what you need to know about RA 12006:
Who is eligible?
This law benefits graduating high school students who belong to the top 10% of their class. Additionally, they must be:- Natural-born Filipino citizens
- From a family with a combined household income that falls below the poverty threshold set by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
What are the requirements? Even though the exam fees are waived, there are still a few things students need to do:
- Apply for college entrance exams administered by any private higher education institution in the Philippines
- Meet all the admission requirements set by their chosen school
How will this be implemented? The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will be responsible for enforcing this law. They will also be tasked with creating the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) within 60 days, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and associations representing private schools.
This is a significant step towards making higher education more accessible to talented Filipino students from underprivileged backgrounds. By removing the financial barrier of entrance exams, RA 12006 opens doors for these students to pursue their academic dreams.
Are you a graduating student who might be eligible for this benefit? Stay tuned for further announcements from CHED regarding the official implementation process. In the meantime, you can contact your school's guidance counselor or research the entrance exam requirements of your chosen colleges for more information.