Our State Universities and Colleges
We may not feel or see it, but our state universities and colleges (SUCs) are having a dramatic impact on our economy. There is at least one in each province and many of them have campuses in several towns.
In Tacloban City, there are 3 of them – LNU, LIT and UP.
How do they create such impact?
With these SUCs, the national government is able to provide education at low rates. A semester's total fees could be less than P2,000. Private schools will charge probably at least 3 times more.
Their equipment may not be excellent, but theirs are better than in most private schools. In general, the faculty are well compensated compared to teachers in private schools. The quality of instruction continued to go up as more and more teachers obtain masteral and doctorate degrees. They are supervised by Presidents who have gone through a rigid screening process and who are aided and guided by a Board of Trustees or Regents.
Their graduates are making good impressions in many fields – teacher education (LNU), engineering (LIT), agriculture (LSU – formerly VISCA) to cite a few. They provide vital services which keep our economy going.
Over the years enrollment in SUCs have gone up to something like 30,000 per year in this region. They provide hopes of a better future to thousands of graduates a year.
When employed, they are able to increase family incomes.
They serve as “equalizers” where low-income families are given the opportunity to obtain quality higher education at low cost.
While SUC education is not be free, the fees charged are low, which means the government pays for the large portion of the cost.
Now and then problems crops up, largely about management styles and practices. They are overcome through procedures that are well laid down in civil service rules.
There is always room for improvement, of course. Nevertheless, on the whole, this region is fortunate to have such a large number.
What we may not have in industries, we are able to recover through educational services.
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