Press Release
February 21, 2025
TSU clarifies opt-out concerns
The Tarlac State University administration initiated a dialogue among student representatives on February 17, 2025 (Monday), at the Main audio-visual room, concerning comments on payment deadlines for students covered by the opt-out mechanism.
Student representatives, including student council officers, student publications, and some "opt-out students," raised other clarifications concerning the opt-out mechanism, which were answered by representatives from the administration, namely Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Atty. Wilmark J. Ramos, Vice President for Administration, Dr. Theda Flare G. Quilala, Office of Admission and Registration Director, Assoc. Prof. Jazzel Llaneli M. Manabat, Office of Public Affairs Director, and Dr. Gladie Natherine G. Cabanizas, Student Affairs and Services OIC Director.
The opt-out mechanism of TSU was approved by the university's Board of Regents by virtue of Resolution No. 60, s. 2024, dated June 26, 2024. This mechanism follows the provision of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act No. 10931) implementing rules and regulations, specifically Section 8, stating that "all SUCs and LUCs shall create a mechanism to enable students with financial capacity to pay for their education and voluntarily opt out of the subsidy for tuition and other school fees."
Moreover, on April 2, 2024, the university administration sought the advice of the UniFAST Secretariat regarding the implementation of the opt-out mechanism.
The students subjected to the opt-out mechanism are those who did not meet the quota for the programs they applied for through the TSU College Admission Evaluation. In response to the growing demand from these applicants and their parents, the university devised the opt-out mechanism to reconsider and accommodate a certain number of applicants based on the classroom and laboratory capacity of the different colleges or "absorptive capacity."
The students and their parents/guardians were not forced to pay their tuition and other fees under the opt-out mechanism. They are aware of their obligations to pay these fees after the opt-out mechanism was presented and discussed during the orientation for "opt-out enrollees" last July 24, 2024, August 7, 2024, and August 9, 2024.
For the past and current semesters, these students and their parents signed a waiver without duress or coercion, which was subsequently notarized. The university's legal counsel reviewed this waiver. Tarlac State University, as a state-run institution, recognizes that it will never be acceptable to force students to sign a waiver and enroll under the opt-out mechanism.
Deadlines for the payment of fees, initial and second payment, are clearly indicated in the pre-registration form, which is accessible via the student portal. In case a student cannot pay for the full amount stated on the form, adjustments can be made by the Accounting Office through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Opt-out students are also given the opportunity to apply for scholarships through the Office of Student Affairs and Services and avail of counseling from the said office.
Meanwhile, Free Tuition slots for "qualified" admission evaluation applicants are based on the budget allotted by the Department of Budget and Management.
The "limited slots" scenario is a situation experienced not just by TSU but also by other SUCs nationwide.
For the admission of first-year students this August 2025, the university does not have the exact figures yet as to the qualified applicants for Free Tuition since the parameters to be considered in determining the number of Free Tuition grantees are (1) the number of graduating students this July 2025 and Midyear 2025 and (2) amount of Free Higher Education appropriated for the fiscal year.
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