Declaration of Policy
- State's commitment to promote social justice and provide access to quality tertiary education for all socio-economic classes.
- Focus on poor but academically able and motivated students.
- Unified and harmonized publicly funded programs for scholarships, grants-in-aid, and student loans.
Objectives
- Proper allocation and utilization of government student financial resources through effective targeting.
- Ensure consistency, continuity, and coordination of student financial assistance programs.
- Achieve regional equity in assistance slot distribution.
- Produce highly qualified graduates through merit and talent-based scholarships.
- Facilitate access for marginalized sectors through grants-in-aid.
- Assist liquidity-challenged students via student loans.
Definitions of Terms
- Beneficiary: recipient of any student financial assistance modality.
- Cost of Tertiary Education: tuition, miscellaneous and other fees, educational expenses, cost of living allowance.
- Scholarship: assistance based on merit or talent.
- Grant-in-Aid: assistance for poor students meeting minimum academic competence.
- Student Loan: loans for students facing liquidity problems to be repaid.
- Other key terms defined include HEI, TVET, SUCs, Registry of Programs & Institutions, Scholar, and UniFAST.
Scope and Coverage of UniFAST
- Covers all existing student financial assistance programs for tertiary education and special purpose assistance.
- Includes scholarships, grants-in-aid, student loans, and government-partnered programs in public/private institutions.
- UniFAST harmonizes, reforms, strengthens, expands, and rationalizes government STUFAPS for efficiency and coordination.
- Exempts specific existing targeted programs from full integration but requires compliance with Board policies.
- Mandates annual reporting to UniFAST Board from implementing agencies.
Modalities of Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs)
- Scholarship: merit- and talent-based government-funded program promoting development of bright and talented students.
- Grant-in-Aid: targeted at poor and marginalized students to improve equity and access.
- National Student Loan Program: self-sustaining loan program with provisions for loan repayment, management, and private sector participation.
- Other modalities: Board encouraged to develop other forms including private scholarships and assistance programs aligned with Board standards.
Eligibility of Applicants
- Must be Filipino citizen (with possible exemptions for foreign students under reciprocal programs).
- High school graduate or equivalent.
- Good moral character, with some exceptions.
- Admitted to accredited HEI/TVI.
- Pass TESDA screening for TVET applicants.
- Disclosure of other financial aid; partial aid recipients may still apply.
- Meeting Board score for Qualifying Examination for Scholarships.
- Other criteria as prescribed by the Board.
Disqualifications and Limitations
- Must maintain good academic standing and comply with Board-imposed conditions.
- Supervening personal circumstances considered.
- Students may be directed to priority courses identified by CHED or TESDA to avail assistance.
- Assistance not denied to students in non-priority courses if priority courses unavailable locally.
Terms of Availment of StuFAPs
- Board may impose reasonable terms and conditions before granting assistance.
Sanctions
- Reasonable sanctions may be imposed for contract violations by beneficiaries.
Creation of the UniFAST Board
- Attached to CHED, composed of representatives from CHED, DOST, TESDA, DepED, DOLE, NEDA, and NYC.
Powers and Functions of the UniFAST Board
- Formulate and review policies for UniFAST.
- Coordinate with implementing agencies and support them.
- Prepare budget proposals for UniFAST financial assistance programs.
- Set guidelines for beneficiary qualification and contracts.
- Monitor, evaluate, and assess student financial assistance programs.
- Adopt qualifying examination systems for eligibility.
- Promote private sector participation.
- Maintain public databases of STUFAPS and accredited programs.
- Facilitate fund generation, donations, and appoint legal officers.
- Develop systems for student-loan tracking, disbursement, and collections including blacklisting.
- Perform other necessary functions for UniFAST implementation.
Board Meetings, Quorum and Secretariat
- Board to meet 12 times per year initially, then no less than quarterly after 4 years.
- Written notification for meetings; substitute permitted by qualified representatives.
- Proceedings recorded; quarterly performance review required.
- Simple majority forms quorum.
- Secretariat headed by an Executive Director to support Board operations, administrative and technical functions.
Executive Director
- Appointed by Board with at least 7 years managerial experience and a master’s degree.
- Coordinates STUFAPS, manages partnerships, supervises Secretariat.
- Reports annually on operations and financial status.
Financial Management and Accountability
- Public funds managed by government accounting and auditing standards.
- Additional procedures may be adopted to ensure transparency and ease of fund disbursement.
Reporting Requirements
- Separate bookkeeping by implementing agencies.
- Mid-year and annual reports combining financial and operational data.
- Reports submitted to Congress and DBM and made available to others upon request.
Responsibilities of Government Agencies
- Agencies must submit reports, maintain transparency in selection, and comply with Board policies.
Performance Monitoring and Impact Assessment
- Regular monitoring and evaluation with clearly defined target outcomes.
- Metrics include enrollment, graduation, employment, income, and societal contributions.
- Evaluation every five years with tracer studies and data analyses.
Congressional Oversight Committee
- Composed of members from Senate and House committees on education.
- Oversees implementation, including inquiry into Board’s accounts.
- Secretariat support shared by both committees.
Appropriations and Funding
- Initial funding charged to CHED; ongoing funds included in Annual General Appropriations Act.
- Board may solicit grants, donations, and support including from foreign sources subject to regulations.
- Cost-sharing schemes with local government units encouraged.
Implementation and Rules
- Board to promulgate Implementing Rules and Regulations within specified time.
Miscellaneous Provisions
- Separability clause to preserve unaffected provisions if others are invalidated.
- Non-impairment clause ensures rights of disadvantaged sectors are not diminished.
- Repealing clause removes inconsistent laws, including RA 8545 provisions on tertiary education.
- Effectivity fifteen days after publication.