Manila: Over 2.6 million students have benefited from the government's Free Higher Education Program in the first semester of Academic Year 2025-2026, as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reported significant gains in access, scholarships, workforce development, research, and digital transformation during the first year of its ACHIEVE Agenda.
According to Philippines News Agency, in her State of Higher Education Address during CHED's 32nd founding anniversary celebration, Chairperson Shirley Agrupis highlighted the measurable outcomes achieved from the agency's reform agenda, which aims to make higher education more accessible and globally competitive. The reforms are based on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s vision of expanding educational opportunities for every Filipino family.
Agrupis referenced Marcos' 2025 State of the Nation Address, where the President expressed hope that every family would have a child who has graduated from college or from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). She emphasized the importance of quality higher education as a key to improving lives, expanding opportunities, and advancing national development.
When Agrupis assumed office, CHED faced several long-standing challenges, including fragmented education systems and limited research capacity. After discussions with the President, she was directed to address these issues and enhance opportunities for excellence. Under CHED's "Advanced and Accessible Lifelong Learning" pillar, the agency expanded the Free Higher Education Program from 2.04 million students in 2022 to 2.61 million beneficiaries, marking an increase of nearly 28 percent.
The ACHIEVE Agenda, which stands for Advanced and Accessible Lifelong Learning; Centralized One-Nation Human Capital Development Plan; Harmonized SDG-based Higher Education Research and Innovation Agenda; Integrated Real-Time Data Collection and Analytics System; Expanded and Impact-Driven Internationalization Strategies; Vitalized Policies, Internal Systems, and Governance; and Effective and Efficient Public Service, is CHED's strategic reform agenda for 2025-2030.
Agrupis also reported that the Tertiary Education Subsidy saw 727,451 beneficiaries, the highest since its launch in 2018. The program provides financial assistance to students under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. Additionally, the Tulong Dunong Program provided financial aid to 309,004 students. CHED also bolstered support for disadvantaged learners through partnerships and institutionalizing the Expanded Access to Scholarship for Special Equity Groups Program.
CHED continues to expand alternative learning pathways through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), allowing working Filipinos to earn college degrees by crediting their work experience. Agrupis noted that 114 higher education institutions now offer ETEEAP nationwide, with 3,343 individuals completing their degree programs.
To better align education with labor market demands, CHED launched the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program and strengthened scholarships in priority sectors. Collaboration between CHED, government agencies, and industry groups was intensified to address skills mismatches and improve education-to-employment pathways.
Research and innovation remain a key focus, with CHED launching Sustainable Development Goals-focused research grants and expanding funding for research capability and innovation. On the international front, Agrupis reported growth in transnational higher education programs and international partnerships, expanding access to globally recognized academic programs.
CHED has accelerated digital transformation efforts, rolling out new online systems for scholarships, academic credential verification, student records management, and higher education analytics. Initiatives include CHED TANAW for real-time data and analytics, online ETEEAP applications, and streamlined scholarship processing through various portals.
