Is college essential?

We have just gone through graduation season. Here in the Philippines, it is assumed that once done with high school, college comes next.

- BOO CHANCO

Some 81 percent of our senior high school graduates go to college but up to 35 percent of college students fail to complete their degree. The regional attrition rates are even higher at 93 percent in BARMM; 60 percent in Central Visayas; 52 percent in Metro Manila and 50 percent in Western Visayas.

Financial constraints are most often cited to explain the high dropout rates. Despite senator-elect Bam Aquino's Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, many students still do not have the financial means for college education. They have expenses other than tuition.

Many students prioritize employment over education. There are also concerns about the quality of education, including inadequate facilities and unqualified faculty that produce lousy college graduates whose diplomas can't get them jobs.

In the 2025 national budget, the government allocated a total of P127.23 billion for state universities and colleges (SUCs) of which P23.38 billion is designated for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) program, which funds free college tuition.

According to the PCO, there were 1,977 higher education institutions nationwide, of which 113 are SUCs; 137 local universities and colleges (LUCs); 1,714 private HEIs; and 13 other government schools (OGS), CHED-supervised institutions and special schools.

Owning a college or a university is apparently a good business. But the quality of education provided does not always give good returns for students in terms of employability. Many are just diploma mills.