Pagtitiyak ng college education sa mga kabataan

IPINUPURSIGE ni Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada ang pagtitiyak ng pag-aaral ng mga kabataan sa kolehiyo. Aniya, “College education has always been regarded as the ticket to having a decent job and meaningful contribution to the society. It is an invaluable and priceless gift a parent, grandparent, or relative can give a child.”

Kaugnay nito ay hinihikayat niya ang mga kapwa mambabatas na suportahan ang kanyang inihaing Senate Bill 2020 (College Education Trust Fund Act).

Itinatakda ng panukala ang mga sumusunod: “There is hereby established in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) a special trust fund called the College Education Trust Fund… composed of premiums paid by the Members of both Systems… thus enabling their children as bene­ficiaries to complete a four year or five year education.

The benefits shall include the payment by the System concerned of:

a) school fees as may be required for enrollment in and completion of four or five year college course which shall include tuition fees… and such standard fees as may be defined… in coordination with the Department of Education;

b) materials, books, supplies and other similar fees required by the school; and

c) board and lodging expenses that may be incurred in the pursuit of such education.

Incentives: a) Should the child earn any scholarship in College as to exempt the System from the payment of the benefits… such payments shall be received by the child in lieu of the school; b) the System concerned shall provide for incentives to enrollees of the following courses: Agricultural, Forestry, Fishery, Science and Technology.”

Naninindigan si Jinggoy na ang edukasyon ay susi sa pag-unlad ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino at ng buong bansa. Ang naturang hakbangin aniya ay makatutulong nang malaki upang matiyak ang college education ng mga kabataan partikular yung mga anak ng mga miyembro ng GSIS at SSS.