(UPDATED) For many Filipino families, tertiary education is an overwhelming financial burden that can impede their children's chances of pursuing higher education. Fortunately, the government has introduced several programs to help ease the financial struggles of these students.
One such program is the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), which aims to provide financial assistance to deserving students seeking higher education or technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs.
The TES program offers financial support to students from low-income families, enabling them to pursue their educational goals and aspirations without worrying about the high costs associated with tertiary education. By easing the financial burden on these students and their families, TES allows them to focus on their studies and achieve academic success.
TES is beneficial not only for students but also for the country's economy. The program can increase productivity and economic growth by producing a more skilled and educated workforce.
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What is Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)?
The Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) is a grant-in-aid initiative established under RA 10931, also known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
This program extends financial assistance to eligible students currently enrolled in CHED-recognized public and private higher education institutions (HEIs), covering at least some of the tertiary education cost, including education-related expenses.
TES also offers access to quality tertiary education in cities and towns without state or local universities, colleges, or PNSL (Places with No SUC/LUC).
What are the benefits of TES?
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| TES program provides financial aid for students, with grants up to Php40,000 for SUCs/LUCs and Php60,000 for private schools. Source: unifast.gov.ph |
The TES scholarship program provides financial aid to cover educational expenses for students. The amount of funding varies depending on the region and type of institution attended (public or private).
The TES Scholarship offers several benefits, including:
- Subsidy grant – Students enrolled in private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can receive up to PHP 60,000 per academic year. In contrast, those enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) or Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) can receive up to PHP 40,000 per academic year.
- Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits – PWD students can receive an additional allowance to cover expenses such as personal assistance, special services, equipment, transportation, and supplies related to their disability.
- Programs requiring professional license or certification – Students enrolled in programs that require professional licensure or certification can receive a one-time payment to cover the cost of obtaining their first professional credentials, which may include notarial, review class, insurance premium, and documentation fees.
Other benefits include:
- SUCs, LUCs, LGU-run TVIs, and TESDA TTIs: Allowances for books, supplies, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses, documented rental or purchase of personal computers or laptops, and room and board costs incurred by the student.
- Private HEIs and TVIs: Tuition and other school fees that are equivalent to the nearest SUC and State-run TVI in the respective area, allowances for books, supplies, transportation, miscellaneous personal expenses, documented rental or purchase of personal computers or laptops, and room and board costs incurred by the student.
Who is qualified for the TES Scholarship?
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| Eligible Filipino undergraduates within the grace period can apply for TES Scholarship. Source: unifast.gov.ph |
Filipino undergraduate students currently enrolled and have not exceeded the program's grace period of 4 or 5+1 years may apply for the TES Scholarship. The program prioritizes the following:
- Continuing ESGP-PA scholars in SUCs - This group comprises students already receiving the Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) in state universities and colleges (SUCs). They are automatically qualified for the TES scholarship.
- Continuing TES grantees.
- Students enrolled in private HEIs in municipalities/cities with no SUC/LUC - Students in private HEIs located in municipalities or cities without SUC or CHED-recognized LUC will qualify for the TES scholarship under the PNSL category provided that they are residing in the same municipality or city.
- Students from households included in the updated Listahanan - Listahanan is a database of impoverished households maintained by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Students in this database will be ranked based on estimated per capita household income. Those from the poorest households will be given priority for the TES scholarship.
- Poor students not part of Listahanan and ranked by per capita income - Students who are not on the Listahanan but can provide income documentation will be ranked based on estimated per capita household income. The UniFAST Board will determine the required documentation for this group.
What are the conditions for the TES grant?
To qualify for the TES grant, recipients must be enrolled in one of the following:
For Higher Education:
- An undergraduate program that has Board approval on any SUC campus.
- Undergraduate courses with Certificates of Program Compliance (COPCs) in CHED-recognized LUCs.
- Undergraduate courses with Government Recognition in private institutions listed in the UniFAST Registry of Quality-Assured Institutions and Programs.
For TVET:
- A TVET program that possesses a Certificate of Program Registration (CoPR) and is officially listed in the TESDA Compendium of Registered Programs, whether in public or private technical-vocational institutions (TVIs).
Recipients enrolled in higher education programs are entitled to receive the full grant amount for the academic year, which may be renewed yearly, provided they continue their studies.
Meanwhile, recipients enrolled in TVET programs are eligible for the full grant amount for one year or the equivalent amount recommended for program completion, whichever is shorter.
What are the required documents for TES scholarship application?
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| TES scholarship applicants must submit the following documents. Source: unifast.gov.ph |
To qualify for the TES scholarship, you must submit the following documents:
- Certificate of Registration or Enrollment
- Assessment of Fees (for enrollees in Private HEIs)
- Certificate of Residency or any valid government-issued ID (for the PNSL category)
- Photocopy of PWD ID (if applicable)
How to apply for the TES program?
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| To apply for TES, enroll for the first semester and coordinate with the HEI's TES Focal Person to submit information in the TES Online Portal. |
To apply for the TES program, a student must first enroll for the first semester of the academic year and coordinate with the TES Focal Person of the Higher Education Institution (HEI) to ensure that their correct information is included in the list of applicants to be submitted in the TES Online Portal.
The TES Focal Person then submits the applicants' information into the TES Online Portal for a nationwide assessment, which includes name-matching verification, validation, and ranking based on prioritization and availability of funds.
The step-by-step process for applying for the TES program is as follows:
This step involves communicating with the TES Focal Person of the Higher Education Institution (HEI) to obtain information about the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) Portal application process. The HEI typically appoints this person to assist students with their TES applications.
Step 2 – The TES Focal Person submits the student's information into the TES Portal.
Once a student has enrolled in an eligible HEI, the TES Focal Person enters the student's information into the TES Portal. This includes the student's details, course, and other relevant information.
Step 3 – The UniFAST conducts a nationwide assessment, including name-matching verification, validation, and ranking.
The Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) is responsible for conducting a nationwide assessment of TES applications. This assessment includes name-matching verification, validation, and ranking to ensure that only eligible students receive the subsidy.
Step 4 – The result is posted on the TES Portal of the HEI.
After the assessment, the result is posted on the TES Portal of the HEI, where the student applied for TES. This will indicate whether the student has qualified for the TES subsidy.
Step 5 – The HEI informs qualified students to submit documentary requirements.
If a student is qualified for the TES subsidy, the HEI will inform them of the next steps in the process. This includes submitting documentary requirements to prove their eligibility for the subsidy.
Step 6 – The students submit their documentary requirements.
The documentary requirements may include the student's birth certificate, academic records, and other relevant documents. These requirements will be used to verify the student's eligibility for the TES subsidy.
Step 7 – The HEI submits the certified documentary requirements to the CHED Regional Office for validation and verification.
Once the student has submitted their documentary requirements, the HEI will review and certify these requirements before submitting them to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office for validation and verification.
Step 8 –The UniFAST Board approves the Masterlist of Qualified TES grantees.
After validation and verification, the UniFAST Board will approve the Masterlist of Qualified TES grantees. This list will include the names of students who have qualified for the TES subsidy and will be eligible for financial assistance for their tertiary education.
Conclusion
The Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) scholarship program is an important initiative to provide financial support to eligible students pursuing tertiary education. The program prioritizes students from low-income households and those enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and CHED-recognized local universities and colleges (LUCs).
Through the TES scholarship program, eligible students receive coverage for their tuition and other school fees and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and other education-related expenses. It also offers extra support for PWD students and those in programs requiring professional licenses or certifications. This program is a significant step towards making education accessible and affordable to all Filipinos, and eligible students must take advantage of this opportunity.
If you have any questions or concerns about the program, contact UniFAST through their hotline at (+63) 928-551-1317 or (+63) 998-985-2955, or email them at askunifast@ched.gov.ph. Their office hours are from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. —iTacloban/AJ Yes