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Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a bill seeking to grant free tuition to government employees pursuing a master’s degree in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada (Senate PRIB Photo)
In filing Senate Bill No. 2277, or the proposed “Government Employees Free MA Tuition in SUCs Act,” Estrada cited the crucial role of state workers in government affairs as the proposed legislation aims to provide government employees with the means to pursue higher education and enhance their professional capabilities, ultimately benefiting public service and the nation as a whole.
The bill, he said, primarily seeks to provide career and non-career government employees with the opportunity to pursue a two-year master’s program in SUCs without the burden of paying tuition that could cost as much as P19,000 to P50,000 for the completion of a 24-unit program.
“Government workers play a crucial role in the country’s human resources, and it is essential to offer them educational advancement opportunities to improve their skills,” Estrada said.
“By enhancing the professionalization of civil servants, the efficient delivery of public services can be further improved, benefiting the people,” he added.
Some agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), already provide scholarship grants to qualified employees pursuing a master’s degree, the senator noted.
“There are many employees in other government branches who wish to pursue higher education to enhance their personal growth, advance their careers, and serve the public more effectively,” he pointed out.
Individuals striving for a higher position in government are requires to hold a master’s degree to ensure they possess the necessary capacity and competence to fulfill their responsibilities and make informed decisions for the organization.
As of June 30, 2022, data from the Inventory of Government Human Resources (IGHR) of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) showed there are 1,820,457 career and non-career employees in the government.
Under the bill, non-career contractual government personnel must have at least five years of employment and pass the entrance examination and other admission and retention requirements of the SUCs in order to be eligible for the program.
However, individuals who have already received government-sponsored graduate education scholarships in any higher education institution, whether public or private, in the country or abroad, are ineligible for this program.
Also, those who fail to complete their master’s degree within a year after the prescribed period in their graduate education program will be disqualified. — Hannah Torregoza
