Senators ask Palace to pick pro-quality education, ‘pro-student’ new CHEd chair

“Higher education has lost a dependable ally with the resignation of CHEd (Commission on Higher Education) Chairperson Patricia Licuanan,” Senator Bam Aquino said on Monday.

“As former chairman of the Committee on Education, we can attest to her dedication to improve access to quality education as we worked closely to pass the free college law,” Aquino further said in a statement.

He then thanked Licuanan for her “immeasurable service to Filipino students and for all her help in crafting the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.”

“At the same time, we call on Malacañang to appoint an immediate replacement with the ability and the will to effectively implement this critical reform.”

“We look forward to working with yet another staunch advocate for quality education in the Philippines,” Aquino also said.

Despite their past differences on the Free Higher Education Law issue, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he appreciated the CHEd’s speed in preparing the guidelines for the law’s full implementation under Licuanan’s watch.

“I hope that her sudden exit will not have a negative impact on the free college policy at this critical stage of its implementation,” Gatchalian said in a separate statement.

He said Licuanan’s resignation was also an opportunity to appoint a “younger, more dynamic” CHEd chairperson, who is more sensitive to the struggles and aspirations of the students.

“I urge the President to appoint a genuinely pro-student Ched chair – one who whole-heartedly supports the Free Higher Education Law, and is ready to fight the unjust imposition of additional costs which threaten the right of all Filipinos to quality and accessible education at all level,” Gatchalian added.

Licuanan announced her resignation early Monday amid questions raised over her travels abroad.

READ: Licuanan resigns as CHEd chair

In a prepared statement she read following the flag raising ceremony at the CHEd main office in Quezon City, Licuanan announced that “it is time to go” as she received a call from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea over the weekend asking her to resign from her office.                /kga