More than 30 state universities and colleges (SUCs) are calling on Congress to restore their respective budgets for next year after a P6.155-billion cut in the proposed budget for schools in 2024.
In a social media post, the Kabataan party-list shared a joint statement from the SUCs which also said 30 state schools are due to face budget cuts next year based on the 2024 National Expenditure Program.
“We, the undersigned, hereby register our call to the Philippine Congress to restore the budget cuts to all State Universities and Colleges and to further augment the Higher Education Budget,” the statement said.
The schools also claimed that cuts were made despite the increasing budget for free higher education, adding that it is proof of the government’s anticipation for higher enrollment in the years to come.
“If our state universities and colleges are to be expected to do their duties, they must be funded accordingly,” the SUCs said.
The SUCs further said: “[An] additional budget is needed for our learning institutions to regain their public character and provide ample support for student services and faculty development.”
“Going through the world’s worst and longest school closure has had a negative impact on the quality of learning for students at all levels, and has forced changes in modalities that we have yet to recover from,” the statement further said.
The party-list also said that the Philippine educational system has been in a crisis for a long time.
“Education is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status. It plays a vital role in empowering individuals and shaping a just society,” the party-list added.
The budget department earlier proposed a P100.88-billion budget for SUCs next year, which is 5 percent lower than the budget in 2023.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) also expressed its support for the SUCs and the call to Congress to restore the schools’ budget.
“A lot of students decide not to push through with college because of the limitation of state universities and colleges to accept students because of the limited budget entrusted to them by the government,” ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said.
He also urged the government to restore the budget so that they may further serve the Filipino youth.
Among the universities to be affected are the University of the Philippines and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel further called on officials, students, teachers, staff, parents to stand up for the education of the youth relating it to the country’s future.
