Not all parents can send their children to college due to lack of funds. This is why when President Rodrigo Duterte signed a bill granting free tertiary education in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs), most students are ecstatic about the good news.

Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act shoulders tuition and other school fees. However, there are qualifications that must be met to ensure that free college tuition is only given to deserving students. 

Under section 6 of RA 10931, the following students are ineligible to avail of the free tertiary education: 

a) In SUCs and LUCs

1. Students who have already attained a bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree from any HEI whether public or private; 

2. Students who fail to comply with the admission and retention policies of the SUC or LUC;

3. Students who fail to complete their bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree within a year after the period prescribed in their program. and

b) In State-Run TVIs:

1. Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree, as well as those who have received a certificate or diploma for technical-vocational course equivalent to at least National Certificate III and above. 

2. Students who fail in any course enrolled in during the course of the program. 

Students ineligible to avail of the free tertiary education shall be charged the tuition and other school fees, as determined by the respective boards of the SUCs and LUCs and in the case of the state-run TVIs, to be determined by the TESDA. 

Students loan programs will also be available alongside free tuition law to cover the cost of tertiary education. 

Section 8 states that "repayment shall be effected by incorporating a portion of the loan amount or a percentage thereof in the employee's monthly Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) contribution, as the case may be, based on a reasonable schedule of repayment and interest rates, as may be formulated by the UniFAST Board.  

Payment of the loan amount will commence once the beneficiary secures any gainful employment with compensation, remuneration or earnings that reach the Compulsory Repayment Threshold (CRT). For purposes of this ACT, the CRT shall be set and reviewed by the UniFAST Board, and adjusted when necessary. 

Classes in both public and private schools have officially opened. Since the implementation of K to 12 educational system in 2011, teachers have been in demand. This is because the program requires students to have one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior highschool and two years of senior highschool, which is referred to as grades 11 and 12. The program needs additional teachers to accommodate students advancing to senior high school. For aspiring teachers, the Republic Act No. 7836 or the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994 strengthens the supervision and regulation of the practice of teaching in the Philippines. All teachers are required to take and pass Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). 

ARTICLE III

EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

SECTION 13.    Examination, Registration and License Required. — Except as otherwise specifically allowed under the provisions of this Act, all applicants for registration as professional teachers shall be required to undergo a written examination which shall be given at least once a year in such places and dates as the Board may determine upon approval by the Commission.  A valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the Commission are required before any person is allowed to practice as a professional teacher in the Philippines, except as otherwise allowed under this Act.

SECTION 14.    Scope of Examination. — The examinations for the elementary and secondary school teachers shall be separate.  The examination for teachers in the elementary level shall consist of two (2) parts, namely:  professional education and general education.  The examination for teachers in the secondary level shall consist of three (3) parts, namely:  professional education, general education, and field of specialization.

SECTION 15.    Qualification Requirements of Applicants. — No applicant shall be admitted to take the examination unless, on the date of filing of the application, he shall have complied with the following requirements:

(a)    A citizen of the Philippines or an alien whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of the teaching profession;

(b)    At least eighteen (18) years of age;

(c)    In good health and of good reputation with high moral values;

(d)    Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court for an offense involving moral turpitude;

(e)    A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the government and possesses the minimum educational qualifications, as follows:

(1)    For teachers in preschool, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education (BECED) or its equivalent;

(2)    For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor's degree in elementary education (BSEED) or its equivalent;

(3)    For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor's degree in education or its equivalent with a major and minor, or a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences with at least ten (10) units in professional education; and

(4)    For teachers of vocational and two-year technical courses, a bachelor's degree in the field of specialization or its equivalent, with at least eighteen (18) units in professional education.

SECTION 16.    Report of the Results of the Examination. — The Board shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the examination, report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the Professional Regulation Commission for approval and appropriate action.

SECTION 17.    Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional License. — The registration of a professional teacher commences from the date his name is enrolled in the roster of professional teachers.  

Every registrant who has satisfactorily met all the requirements specified in this Act shall, upon payment of the registration fee, be issued a certificate of registration as a professional teacher bearing the full name of the registrant with serial number and date of issuance signed by the chairman of the Commission and the chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the Board, stamped with the official seal, as evidence that the person named therein is entitled to practice the profession with all the rights and privileges appurtenant thereto.  The certificate shall remain in full force and effect until withdrawn, suspended and/or revoked in accordance with law.

A professional license signed by the chairman of the Commission and bearing the registration number and date of issuance thereof and the month of expiry or renewability shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the annual registration fees for three (3) consecutive years.  This license shall serve as evidence that the licensee can lawfully practice his profession until the expiration of its validity.

SECTION 18.    Oath Before Practice. — Every registrant shall be required to take his professional oath before practicing as a professional teacher.

SECTION 19.    Periodic Merit Examination of Teachers. — To encourage continuing professional growth and development and to provide additional basis for merit promotion, in addition to their performance rating, teachers may take an oral and written examination at least once in five (5) years as basis for merit promotion.  In taking this examination, no fee shall be required.

Sec. 20.    Failure to Pass the Merit Examination. — If a teacher fails to pass the merit examination, he or she shall be allowed to take the examination for a second time.  Should he or she fail to pass the merit examination for the second time, then he or she shall be required to take a DECS accredited refresher course or program before being allowed to retake the examination.

Failure of any permanent teacher to pass the merit examination shall not, however, be used as a ground for his/her dismissal or demotion.