Higher Education Policy in the Philippines: An Analysis

This paper examined the Philippine higher education (HE) system focusing on the Long-Term Higher Education Development Plan (LTHEDP) implemented from 2001 to 2010. The LTHEDP 2001-2010 seeks to address the perennial problems of HE. The Plan also seeks to prepare the Philippines in embracing developmental opportunities for the twenty-first century such as globalization, information and communication technology, and the changing avenues for a knowledge-based economy. Within the LTHEDP Plan, the Philippine government implemented a policy of resource rationalization for the government-funded state universities and colleges (SUCs). The resource rationalization policy aims to limit the obligation of the government in financing higher education institutions (HEIs). Review and analysis of the present HE system reveals that the annual expenditure of the Philippine government in HE is not enough. As compared to other countries in Asia, the Philippines allocates a small percentage of funds for HE development initiatives. Findings further reveal that there is lack of prioritization in allocating public funds between and among educational institutions in the country. This paper recommends an appropriate level of expenditure for HE by the Philippine government to further improve human capital and boost national development.