Dr. Raul F. Muyong, ISAT U President, shares the university’s implementation of the Free Tuition 2017 and his thoughts on free higher education during the National Information Caravan for RA 10931 at the Iloilo Convention Center on April 11, 2018 .
The University implemented free tuition for Academic Year 2017-2018 pursuant to Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2017-1 dated April 20, 2017. The aforementioned issuance detailed the guidelines on the 2017 Free Tuition Policy or the “Free Tuition 2017.”
In compliance with the conditional implementation ordered by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, ISAT U gave preference to qualified and deserving students and subjected them to fair and equitable admission and academic requirements. Pres. Duterte emphasized the need to safeguard the proper implementation of the provision of the free tuition fee. He also underscored to prioritize financially disadvantage but academically able students.
After complying with the guidelines, ISAT U was reimbursed with Php 27, 481, 881.67 for the tuition fee of 9, 571 students for the first semester, Academic Year 2017-2018. For the second semester, the University received Php25, 083, 267.89 as reimbursement for 8,633 students.
The amount is part of the Php 8 billion appropriated for the Higher Education Support Fund. Stated in the guidelines of the 2017 Free Tuition Policy, the amount appropriated shall be used for the priority programs and projects of the State Universities and Colleges.
According to Dr. Raul F. Muyong, ISAT U President, the reimbursed amount will be subjected to budget deliberations and will be appropriated for the improvement of students’ services.
