SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go co-sponsored a measure that aims to further enhance access to quality education in the country.

Senate Bill 2441 or the Free College Entrance Examinations Act mandates private higher education institutions to waive entrance examination fees for certain students.

Under SBN 2441, Filipino students graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school class will be eligible for free entrance exams in private higher education institutions.

However, this will only be applicable if the student’s family income falls below the poverty threshold set by the National Economic and Development Authority.

Go cited the Constitution’s provision that the State shall protect and promote the right of citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all.

This principle, he added, was bolstered with the passage of Republic Act 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which exempted eligible college students from paying tuition and other fees.

“Through this law, we saw how a single scholarship can be an instrument of change, altering not just one life but the destiny of an entire family,” Go said.

However, he said that some students can’t afford to pay entrance exam fees.

“Kung maipasa natin ito, mas mabibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga qualified and deserving students natin na makakuha ng kalidad na edukasyon,” the senator said.