2nd Higher Education Day Celebration

By Dr. Rex Casiple

Republic Act 11522 was signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declaring every May 18 of the year as the National Higher Education Day. This is to commemorate the founding anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) created on May 18, 1994 by virtue of Republic Act 7722 (RA 7722), otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”.

The Commission has a mission to protect, foster and promote the right of all citizens to affordable quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to ensure that education shall be accessible to all.

CHED is the lead agency in charge of the preparation and implementation of an annual program of activities and advocacy campaign for the observance of the 2^nd National Higher Education Day with the full support and assistance of the HEIs, government agencies, public and private educational institutions, private employers and industry associations.

On May 16-20, 2022 the CHED celebrates its 28^th Founding Anniversary. The theme of the celebration is “CHED@28: CLAIMING VICTORY FOR QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION: Dekalidad na Edukasyon, Karapatan ng Mamamayan”.

CHED broadened the access of deserving and qualified Filipino students to higher education opportunities by extending financial assistance to poor but deserving college students through scholarships, grants and loan programs especially during this time of COVID-19 pandemic.

CHED has also facilitated the implementation in higher education of RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017. This Act implements free tuition and other school fees to students enrolled in state colleges and universities (SUCs) and CHED recognized local colleges and universities (LUCs).

The Act also subsidized the tuition and schooling of qualified students enrolled in private higher education institutions (PHEIs) and grant loan programs to qualified students enrolled in college and in graduate school. This is the basis for CHED claiming victory for Philippine higher education.

This year’s celebration featured events, activities and webinars that revolve around the theme.  In the Regional level, on May 16, 2022 the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office VI (CHEDRO VI) conducted a Higher Education Week Caravan and a Cultural Festival: A Showcase of Talents presented by SUCs in the Region.

On May 17, 2022, a series of webinars, free of charge, conducted by the Commission via Zoom in coordination with the Councils of Deans in various disciplines: Webinar in Teacher Education entitled “Education for All: Ensuring Inclusive and Equitable Higher Education”; Webinar in Graduate Education entitled “Promoting and Strengthening Research Publication in Graduate Education; Webinar in Information Technology Education entitled “The Role of Internet of Things in Transforming Education and Innovating Smart Classrooms; and a Webinar in Engineering Education entitled “Graduate Attributes for Young Engineering Graduates That Enhance Their Employability Opportunity”.

On May 18, 2022 the Commission conducted a webinar in Maritime Education via Zoom entitled “Protection of the Marine Environment”. At the same date the Commission conducted the 1^st CHED Regional Quality Awards Program that recognized the efforts and initiatives of HEIs in the areas of instruction, research and community extension during this time of Pandemic. This activity also recognized CHED scholars and grantees under the STUFAP, UniFAST and K-12 transition programs that graduated with Latin Honors and with other distinctions despite the challenges they encountered during this time of Pandemic.

And in the morning of May 19, 2022, the Commission conducted the 1^st CHED Regional Online Chess Tournament in partnership with the League of Sports Directors in Western Visayas.