A proposed measure in the Senate seeks to improve the quality of education and strengthen governance standards in local universities and colleges (LUCs) as enrollment in these institutions continues to rise.
Senate Bill No. 623, or the proposed Local Universities and Colleges Governance Act, aims to establish a clearer framework for the creation and operation of LUCs while ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Data presented by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) showed that enrollment in LUCs rose from around 343,000 in 2021 to 493,000 in 2023, a 44-percent increase. The figure makes LUCs the fastest-growing segment among higher education institutions.
However, the increase has also raised concerns over quality assurance and institutional recognition.
While 101 LUCs have already secured institutional recognition from CHED, around 59 have yet to be recognized, indicating gaps that could affect education quality and access to state support.
Without institutional accreditation, LUCs are not eligible to receive funding for free higher education under Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
The proposed legislation, authored by Senator Win Gatchalian, seeks to address these issues by setting standards for the establishment, governance and operation of LUCs from the beginning.
“We’ll encourage the establishment of LUCs, but we’ll make sure that from the onset, of quality na sila,” Gatchalian said.