Bam Aquino seeks free higher education for public school teachers’ kids

Teachers in public schools will no longer have to spend a single centavo to send their children to state universities if a bill, providing free education for their kids, is passed into law.

A proposal to provide a full education subsidy program to all children of public school teachers is contained in Senate Bill 173 or the “Free Education for Public School Teachers’ Children Act,” which has been filed by Senator Bam Aquino, chair of the Senate committee on education.

The subsidy program, under the bill, will be offered to all the children of public school teachers in all levels who want to pursue baccalaureate degrees or short-term training course in state universities nationwide.

“The full subsidy program shall cover 100 percent of the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses necessary upon the enrollment of the student in a state college or university,” it said.

The children would be automatically granted the full subsidy program if they meet the qualifications provided for in the measure.

Among the conditions set is that the children, who want to avail of the program, must have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. They also must not have been dishonorably discharged from any higher education institution, whether public or private, for any reason other than financial difficulty in paying tuition and other fees.

In filing the bill, Aquino noted that many of the public school teachers have already sacrificed higher paying jobs and more comfortable working environments to answer their calling of educating those from less fortunate families.

“Their act of public service is invaluable to the lives of their students and molding the future of our country,” he said in his explanatory note of the bill.

“But as they fulfill their vocation in the field of education, they too struggle to afford the tuition fees to send their own children to school. With the meager salaries of public school teachers, paying for a college education comes as a heavy burden.”

“To unburden our modern-day heroes and to promote the value of education and becoming an educator, this bill endeavors to provide full tuition subsidies available in all State Universities and Colleges in the Philippines for the children of public school teachers,” Aquino said.

He said the was not only in line with his efforts to improve access to quality education for every young Filipino but it would also send the message that becoming an educator within the public school system is a “dignified vocation worthy of special benefits from the State.”

“Let’s continue to support and reward citizens who take part in nation­-building and creating a brighter future for the next generation of young Filipinos,” the senator said. CDG

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