Assessment on the Implementation of Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST): Basis for a Proposed Action

Abstract

This study aims to assess the initial implementation of Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) under the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act" (RA 10931) implemented by the UniFAST Board. With the use of descriptive approach and quantitative type of research, this study targets to identify the impact of TES on the students’ persistence, academic performance, and financial capacity, it also attempts to find out the problems encountered on its implementation among the beneficiaries from different Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the 4th Congressional District of Quezon Province. With the use of self-made questionnaire validated by the three experts on this field of study and answered by the respondent beneficiaries, this study found out that the TES program has a positive effect on student’s persistence to finish their college degree. It also helps them to engage and focus on their lessons and different school activities that contribute to their good academic performance. Furthermore, the amount of money that the TES provided to the students enables them to support their educational needs and relieve student’s financial burden in school. This study also revealed that the initial implementation of TES program has a serious problem experienced by most of the beneficiaries.  Based from the result of the study, the researcher established a comprehensive action plan that will support the TES program to further improve its implementation. This Action Plan can create a significant impact to bridge the gap between the objective of its Implementing Rules and Regulations and its actual implementation.