CHED eyes review of public universities' admission policies

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera III on Tuesday said the admission policies of public universities need to be reformed amid the low enrollment numbers.

At a public briefing, De Vera said a significant number of underprivileged youths were having difficulty passing the admission requirements of public universities.

“Ang repormang kailangan natin dyan ay unang-una kailangan tignan na natin yung admission policy kasi ngayon ang daming batang gustong mag-aral sa mga public universities’,” he said.

(The first reform we need is to review the admission policies because many youths want to study at public universities.)

“We have to review the admission policies and conduct affirmative action para mapadami natin yung mga estudyante na gustong natin talagang tulungan. Kailangan merong equity ang access to education,” he said.

(We have to review the admission policies and conduct affirmative action to help more students. We need to have equity when it comes to access to education.)

At the University of the Philippines, De Vera said over 100,000 students apply yearly but only 14,500 slots are offered.

De Vera said the admission rate in other premier public universities was only around 50%.

Retained as CHED Chair, De Vera said he would like to ensure that free higher education would continue in the country. — DVM, GMA News