A new law expands access to higher and technical-vocational education by increasing financial assistance for disadvantaged students and prioritizing learners from the poorest households.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12325 on September 4, amending the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act to broaden and better target government support, with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) given priority under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).
Under the law, disadvantaged learners include those from 4Ps households, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, solo parents and their dependents, first-generation tertiary education learners, and students from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. It also directs the government to prioritize TES beneficiaries based on need.
The expansion comes amid low TES uptake among 4Ps students. According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education, only 4,746, or 1.23 percent, of 384,388 4Ps senior high school completers became first-year TES beneficiaries in Academic Year 2024–2025.
Under the expanded TES, qualified students may receive assistance for education-related expenses. The law also provides support for required internships and Related Learning Experience (RLE), additional allowances addressing barriers faced by economically disadvantaged students, and a one-time subsidy for professional licenses or certifications required by their programs.
Moreover, beneficiaries will receive TES for the prescribed duration of their programs and may be granted up to one additional year for documented delays caused by economic hardship, health conditions, force majeure or other valid reasons, subject to evaluation and approval by the UniFAST Board.
The law also creates Private Education Assistance (PEA) for poor and deserving students taking priority programs at qualified private higher education and technical-vocational institutions. Eligibility will be determined based on household per capita income, while CHED and TESDA, in coordination with concerned agencies, will identify the priority programs covered.
The UniFAST Board will determine the amount of PEA based on tertiary education costs in qualified private institutions. The program will undergo a pilot implementation of up to three years before full implementation, subject to available funds.
Meanwhile, public higher education and state-run technical-vocational institutions must adopt measures to help disadvantaged learners enter and complete their studies. These may include waiving admission examination fees, providing assistive technologies and prioritizing access to available dormitories. Institutions may also consider applicants’ circumstances in admission evaluations without compromising academic standards and program requirements.
To track implementation, the law requires monitoring of TES, including student retention and completion, employment outcomes and funding requirements. It also establishes a grievance mechanism and requires impact evaluations at least once every four years.
The UniFAST Board, in consultation with concerned agencies and stakeholders, must issue the implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from the law’s effectivity.
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