The Effects of the Education Act of 1982: Tuition fee, salary and the role of government

Abstract

In 1982, the Philippine government had its chance to improve the educational system in the country through the Republic Act 232, more popularly known as the Education Act of 1982. However, twenty-four years later, the Education Act's objectives remain unfulfilled, in fact education in the country has become more unaffordable, less accessible and badly in need of improvement since the passing of the act. It is in this light that the author, through this paper, examined the effects of the Education Act of 1982 on students and teachers. A comprehensive list of resources, ranging from college education in socialist China to Egypt's misappropriation of funds, was utilized in order to maintain a balanced interpretation. Survey data were collected from three universities namely; Ateneo de Manila University, the University of Santo Tomas, and Centro Escolar University. Anchored on a dialectic materialist framework, the researcher used class-analysis in gathering and probing data. In the end, the study found out that (1) tuition and other fees continue to rise, chiefly in private universities; (2) the quality of Philippine private tertiary education remains low; and lastly that (3) the increase in salary of teachers is not proportional to the increase in tuition and other fees. The researcher believes that there is a need for greater government involvement in private tertiary education particularly in the regulation of tuition and other fees. And that the Education Act of 1982 should be repealed.