Philippines expands education aid for disadvantaged college and vocational students

The Philippines has broadened financial support for students facing barriers to college or vocational training. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12325 on September 4, strengthening the country’s Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

The original law made tuition and other school fees free at public higher education institutions and state-run technical-vocational schools, while offering subsidies to learners with limited means. The amendments expand those subsidies and prioritize disadvantaged and underserved students, including qualified beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Support may now cover a wider range of education-related costs, including books, transport, housing, laptops, internet access, internships, professional licensing requirements and allowances for students with disabilities. A new Private Education Assistance program will also help eligible students in priority courses attend qualified private colleges or technical-vocational institutions when they are not covered by existing grants.

Public colleges and state-run vocational institutions must develop Equity and Inclusion Plans, with measures such as fee waivers and priority access to facilities. The law also requires the national student financial assistance board to review and adjust tertiary education subsidies every two years, taking inflation and changing education costs into account, while strengthening monitoring and accountability.