Impact of Free Higher Education Program on the Education Learning Process

Of Freshmen Nursing Students

Section 1: Introduction

Rationale:

Free Higher Education is a scholarship implement by the government that

made our life easier, not with our academic problems but with the financial expenses. I choose
this topic because I want to know the importance of the said scholarship to the Freshmen
Nursing Students and how it affects them. How free higher education helps nursing students
with their financial expenses like tuition fee and other school fee’s as well. Free Higher
education is an opportunity to grab on and should never be neglected. It was a big help for
people who can’t afford to study in a certain universities like Jose Rizal Memorial State
University. The said program was a big help for me because the money that supposed to be
pay at school for our tuition fees and other fee serves now as my allowance. As the world
become more high-tech our primary needs like foods and dress becoming more expensive.
For poor people like me cant afford to buy the only way is to finish our education and the FREE
HIGHER EDUCATION made it possible to happen, to reach our goals in life. I choose to
conduct or to study this kind of research for I want to know if my classmates feel the same way
as I feel, thankful, blessed, and lucky.

Statement of the Problem:

Filipinos believe that finishing tertiary education will open more and better doors of
employment opportunities for their children. Access to free education had been the cry of
college students for decades now. Some has financial problem why they can’t afford to go to
school. Some just stop and just work at a young age to save and gain enough money to go
back to school. But still it wasn’t enough. Thanks to the new program that has implemented
which is the Free higher education made our life in school easier through sponsoring our
financial expenses like tuition fees and other school fees as well.

Significance of the study:

The importance of this study includes the following:
 To identify if the Free Higher Education Program creates a positive or negative impact
of the Freshmen Nursing students.
 Does this scholarship satisfy their problems when it comes to school finances
Theoretical Background:

As the anonymous author once said that “ Education is the key to Success”
and “ Poverty is not a hindrance to Success”, which is correct. To eradicate poverty in our
country and to rise up people from poverty, education is the key. Maybe for the past years,
money and school expenses are really a big problems, but for now the government
implementing many scholarship and free education is one of it. There’ no reason why you can’t
study at all.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 10931

AN ACT PROMOTING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION BY
PROVIDING FOR FREE TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND
COLLEGES, LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND STATE-RUN TECHNICAL-
VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ESTABLISHING THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY AND
STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM, STRENGTHENING THE UNIFIED STUDENT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION, AND APPROPRIATING FUND
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1304 and House Bill No. 5633 was finally passed
by the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 30, 2017 and May 29, 2017, respectively.
And was approved by the President of the Philippines on August 3, 2017.

Conceptual Framework:

Free Higher Education is a scholarship from the government which is an

opportunity that must be grab to those who can’t afford the tuition fee of such University. To
those who wanted to study Nursing and freshmen that are currently studying right now is a bit
lucky for tuition fee is not a problem at all.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

- Freshmen Nursing Students

Free Higher Education Program How does it affect each

freshmen Nursing students in
Republic Act no. 10931 terms with financial expenses

To identify if it is a help
or a burden
Review of Literature:

Free Higher Education which has the goal in helping students with their
financial problem at school like universities. It is supported by the government and the aim to
help students finish their studies and lessen the burden of their parents when it comes to
financial problems.

The Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
includes the following:

1.1. It covers other fees as well

RA 10931 includes "library fees, computer fees, laboratory fees, school ID

fees, athletic fees, admission fees, development fees, guidance fees, handbook fees,
entrance fees, registration fees, medical and dental fees, cultural and other similar or related fees."

The government will also provide a stipend for poor students. It also establishes a loan program for
students who are in need.
1.2. The free tuition fee only applies to undergraduate students who are taking a
bachelor's degree for the first time

This means that those who are going to get their second degree are ineligible.

1.3. A student should finish the degree on the allotted period of time.

Failure to do so will mean that you have to pay the fees themselves
during the exceeding period of time.
Definition of Terms:
when parents are asked what their dreams are for their children, the very
immediate response is “Makatapos sila ng pag-aaral (For them to finish education)”, and
formal education in the Philippines is usually until college. However, with the very limited
financial capacities of many of the Filipino families, not everyone can reach college. This is
primarily the reason college education is such the ultimate dream – not just by Filipino parents
but by the children as well. They needed an organization or scholarship to help them and
craving for such thing has now realized by the help of the Republic Act no. 10931 which is the
free tuition.
With the free tertiary education, many Filipinos are hoping that the dream “Makapagtapos ng
pag-aaral” will not remain to be a dream but for every Filipino to achieve. Now, with the first batch of
K-12 students graduating from senior high school, influx of newly-bred college students, to whom the
country has a high expectation of, will now enter the universities and colleges to hopefully bring about
the dream of everyone finishing college.
Section 2: Methodology

Research Design:
For this study, we used the IMRAD format to gain enough information both subjective
and objective data. For the survey questions, I am using the quantitative design due to it is much
easier since it is an individual research and to find out the result of this research through table form.

Research Participants/Respondents:
The respondents of this study are the first year Nursing students of Jose Rizal
Memorial State University specifically the Block Peplau.
Research Instrument/Sources of data:
For survey Questionnaire:
 Pen
 Paper
 Questionnaire
For Documentation:
 Cellphone for picture taking
Data Collection Procedure:
To gather a data, I had made several questions including their financial status, age
and gender, then the questions about the free higher education. After revising and finalized the
survey questioner, it was distributed by the researcher to the respondents which are the first year
nursing students of JRMSU.

Treatment of Data:
As the data I have collected, most of the answers are positive. The free higher
education helps them a lot when it comes to financial expenses. As for me, the free higher education
is the reason why I study in this university for financial expenses is not a problem at all.
Section 3: Results

AGE GENDER FINANCIAL STATUS

MALE 25% POOR MIDDLE RICH

18-19 YRS OLD
FEMALE 75%
0% 100% 0%

TABLE 1.
The table above shows the demographic data of the respondents. There age, gender, and
financial status. The respondents are from the first year nursing students of JRMSU which has the
total average of 20 respondents.

100%
90%
80%
70%
60% Column2

50% Column1

40% Series 1

30%
20%
10%
0%
HELPFUL MAYBE NOT HELPFUL

Table 2.
Table 2 are the responds or the results that the researcher gathered from the respondents. The
first year nursing students treasured the free higher education for to them it contributes a lot in
finishing and reaching their goals in life. It lessen the expenses they supposed to spend.
Section 4: Analysis and Findings
A good education is one of the most important things an individual can pursue. It also
makes a person smarter than someone without one. It is the foundation of our society. Education
helps to stimulate our minds and mold inquisitive minds into intellectual. Broader learning takes the
intellect to the next level, providing a deeper understanding of the world around us. It forms the very
essence of our actions. As I go deeper with my study, I found out that education plays a crucial role in
our society, in each and everyone’s life. Without it, we cannot survive in this world full of surprises,
especially that there are lots of changes happening in our society. As per answers of my respondents,
they value education that much, for to them it is the only way to have a better future, a better
opportunities and a better life. They are very much thankful to the FREE HIGHER EDUCATION
PROGRAM today for they don’t have to spend too much money in schools except for projects and
other activities. Instead of paying for tuition fees they kept their money and saved it for allowance.
They are hoping that the free higher education program is for lifetime to give opportunity for the next
generation to enjoy this program and used it in a proper way.

Section 5: Discussion

Conclusion:
Education is a powerful tool by which economically and socially marginalized adults and
children can lift themselves out of poverty and participate fully as citizens. Education is what removes
our doubts and fears, what makes us happy and successful, what makes us better human beings.
The teacher comes, removes the darkness, and suddenly we find how beautiful the world is. I believe
that to be successful in life you need is to finish education.
For Nursing students, program like the Republic Act 10931 which is the free education for
college students is a very helpful one due to studying nursing needs a big amount of money to spend
every semester. Therefore, the free higher education creates a big impact in finishing our education
and become a future nurse soon. That’s why we need to treasure and thank the government on
implementing program like this for it creates an open door or an opportunities to those who cant
afford to go to college due to financial problem. We should use this program in the right way and
consider it as the ladder to our success.
Recommendation:
Maintaining the required grades to continue availing the scholarship is not that easy but we
must and we should to continue and enjoy the scholarship until we graduate. We are hoping that the
said scholarship are for lifetime for the next generation to study without worrying the expenses in
school.

References:

-www.candymag.com/features/free-tuition-fee-republic-act-10931-philippines-a00005-20170816
-www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra_2017.html
-www.sunstar.com.ph/article/428052-
-theodysseyonline.com
-m.news24.com
-education.findlaw.com
-live.fundza.mobi
APPENDIX
Survey Questionnaire
RESPONDENTS PROFILE
NAME:
AGE:
FINANCIAL STATUS:

QUESTIONS:

1. Is free higher education lessen your expenses when it comes to school finances?
YES or NO but you can defend your answer if you want.

2. Is free higher education helps you to finish your study within this semester?
YES or NO but you can defend your answer if you want.

3. The grades required to attain the said program is hard to maintain?

YES or NO but you can defend your answer if you want

4. To reach your goals in life, does free higher education is one of the instruments to aim it?
YES or NO but you can defend your answer if you want

RESPONDENTS SIGNATURE:
 Jose Rizal Memorial State University
Main Campus, Dapitan City

Impact of Free Higher Education Program on the Education Learning Process

Of Freshmen Nursing Students

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in GE-PC(Purposive Communication)Course

Jestonie s. Risaba
Jose Rizal Memorial State University
Main Campus, Dapitan City
[email protected]
May 22, 2019