UE welcomes free college entrance exam law for qualified students

MANILA, Philippines —  The University of the East (UE) on Tuesday welcomed the passage of a law waiving college entrance fees for qualified indigent students as it underscores a commitment to prioritizing the future of children.

Republic Act 12006, or the “Free College Entrance Examinations Act,” lapsed into law on June 14.

“UE lauds the passage of the law making the college entrance test free for deserving poor students. For many of our youth, a free college entrance exam could be their ticket not just to a college education, but also out of poverty and to better lives,” UE President Zosimo Montemayor Battad said in a statement.

Under the law, a graduating highn school student can be eligible for a free college entrance exam in private higher education institutions, given that he or she meets certain requirements.

He or she should be a natural-born Filipino citizen; belonging to the top 10 percent of his or her graduating class; coming from a family whose combined household income falls below the poverty threshold based on guidelines from the National Economic and Development Authority or cannot afford to provide for minimum basic needs duly certified as such by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Waiving the entrance fee is putting our resources to things we value most—our children’s education and future,” Battad stressed.

The university held its entrance exam for aspiring freshmen last March 7 and 8.

Battad noted that UE has already been holding an open house in its Manila and Caloocan campuses to give college students the chance to take the test without cost even before the law was passed.