Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 21) — Some senators want state universities and colleges to stop accepting foreign students, especially those taking medical courses.
During the Senate’s budget hearing of the Commission on Higher Education and State Universities and Colleges on Monday, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said it was “repulsive” that foreign medical students were allowed to study in SUCs which are funded by taxpayers’ money.
Drilon then moved to include a provision in the budget regulating the admission of foreign students in SUCs.
“We are not saying foreign medical students should not come to our shores. But let them enroll in the private schools and pay the appropriate fees. But to be in public, in SUCs cannot be justified for whatever reason,” says Drilon.
Senators Imee Marcos and Cynthia Villar agreed with Drilon.
Marcos fears foreign students might be taking up slots meant for Filipino students.
For Villar, the limited capacity of SUCs should be made available only to Filipinos.
“Nilapitan po ako ng ilang student group na ang sinasabi pinopondohan ng Philippine government ang sangkatutak na foreigners lalo na sa college of medicine,” Marcos says.
[Translation: I was approached by some student groups who said the Philippine government was funding a lot of foreigners, especially in medical colleges.]
“When my children went to a foreign university, merong mga Filipino students dun na pumasok ng libre but they were given scholarships by private companies,” says Villar.
[Translation: When my children went to a foreign university, there were Filipino students there who got in for free but they were given scholarships by private companies.]
“Filipino students who got scholarship abroad got it from foreign comapnies and foundations, not governments abroad,” she added.
CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera admitted he has heard accusations that foreign students were crowding out local students in the medical program of some SUCs.
De Vera said accepting foreign exchange students also helps build international linkages which are taken into consideration in the international ranking of universities.
He explained that the power to decide whether or not to accept foreign students lies on the board of regents of SUCs.
“Kung ako lang po ang masusunod ang posisyon ko diyan — kapag state university ka sa medical program, dapat ang estudyante mo, Pilipino lang. That is my personal position. But those decisions are made by the board of regents of individual State Universities,” De Vera says.
[Translation: If it were up to me, my position would be — if it’s a state university’s medical program, you should only have Filipino students. That is my personal position. But those decisions are made by the board of regents of individual State Universities.]
