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RA 12325: CHED Highlights New TES Benefits for Disadvantaged Students
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Add The Colleges PH on GoogleThe Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has vowed to advance support for poor and disadvantaged Filipino learners following the signing of Republic Act (RA) 12325, or “An Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” which amends the landmark Free Tuition Law (RA 10931).
In a statement, CHED and UniFAST Board Chairperson Shirley Agrupis committed to working with other government agencies to ensure the law’s proper implementation.
“Free tuition opened the doors of higher education to millions of Filipinos, but getting into college is only the first step,” Agrupis said, adding that the government also needs to help students stay in school and finish, especially those whose families struggle with the everyday costs of pursuing a degree.
Here’s a closer look at what CHED says the new law adds on top of existing Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) benefits.
New TES Benefits Under RA 12325
Based on CHED’s statement, the following are the key additions RA 12325 makes to TES coverage:
1. Coverage for internships and Related Learning Experience (RLE):
Assistance to qualified TES beneficiaries may be expanded to cover additional support for internships and RLE, as well as other allowances for economically disadvantaged students who face added educational costs tied to these requirements.
2. Up to one additional year of subsidy support:
Eligible TES beneficiaries will continue receiving the subsidy for the regular duration of their program. Students unable to finish on time due to economic challenges, health concerns, disasters, or other reasons may also receive up to one additional year of support, subject to evaluation and approval.
3. Private Education Assistance for qualified private schools and TVIs:
The amendment establishes Private Education Assistance to aid poor and deserving students seeking to enroll in priority programs offered by qualified private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions.
4. New support requirements for public schools:
Public colleges, universities, and state-run technical-vocational institutions will be required to put measures in place to help disadvantaged students enter and finish tertiary education. These may include waived admission examination fees, assistive technologies, and priority access to available dormitories.
Why these changes matter
Prior to RA 12325’s enactment, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) found that many members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) still had difficulty accessing TES, despite a significant rise in college participation among poor families. In Academic Year 2024-2025, only 1.23 percent, or 4,746 out of 384,388 4Ps senior high school completers, accessed TES as first-year beneficiaries.
The added internship/RLE support, the extra year of subsidy eligibility, and the new Private Education Assistance track are meant to address gaps like this, where students may be admitted into a program but still struggle to complete it because of costs the base subsidy doesn’t cover, or barriers to accessing it in the first place.
Is this a New application students can submit now?
Not yet, CHED’s statement is a commitment to implement the law together with other government agencies, it is not an application announcement.
As with the broader RA 12325 provisions, students should expect implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to follow, which will explain the eligibility criteria, documentary requirements, and how existing TES beneficiaries can access the new internship/RLE allowance, the additional year of support, or Private Education Assistance.
Current and prospective TES beneficiaries should continue applying and renewing through their school’s scholarship or financial assistance office, or through CHED-UniFAST’s established TES channels, while watching for follow-up announcements on the specifics of these new benefits.
READ: RA 12325 Explained: What Marco’s New Law Means for College and TVET Students
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CHED say about RA 12325?
CHED and UniFAST Board Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the agency is committed to working with other government agencies to properly implement the law, emphasizing that helping students finish their degrees is as important as helping them get admitted.
Does RA 12325 add new benefits to TES?
Yes. Based on CHED’s statement, it may expand TES to cover internship and Related Learning Experience (RLE) costs, allow up to one additional year of subsidy support for students who can’t finish on time due to valid reasons, and establish Private Education Assistance for students in qualified private HEIs and TVIs.
Can TES beneficiaries get an extra year of support?
Yes. Students unable to finish their program within the regular duration due to economic challenges, health concerns, disasters, or other reasons may receive up to one additional year of subsidy, subject to evaluation and approval.
What is Private Education Assistance?
It’s a new form of support under RA 12325 meant to help poor and deserving students enroll in priority programs at qualified private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions.
Will public schools have new obligations under this law?
Yes. Public colleges, universities, and state-run TVIs will be required to implement measures supporting disadvantaged students, such as waived admission exam fees, assistive technologies, and priority dormitory access.
Why did the government make these changes?
EDCOM II research found that many 4Ps household members still struggled to access TES despite rising college participation among poor families in AY 2024-2025, only about 1.23 percent of 4Ps senior high school completers accessed TES as first-year beneficiaries. The new provisions aim to close gaps like this.
Where can I apply for these new benefits?
There is no separate application yet specifically for the new benefits described in CHED’s statement. Students should continue to follow existing TES application and renewal procedures through their school or CHED-UniFAST, and watch for implementing guidelines detailing how to access the expanded coverage.
