Students of Tarlac State University (TSU) denounced the restrictive “opt-out” scheme or suspension of free education within the university. Councils and students took action to fight for the extension of the deadline for tuition payment for the second semester and to condemn the denial of students’ right to education.

The “opt-out” scheme at TSU was first implemented in June 2024 in line with the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act No. 10931). According to TSU’s policy, students who did not make it into the quota for courses and programs that students choose will have to take the “opt-out” clause. This is reportedly the university’s response to the increasing number of applicants who want to enrol but can no longer be covered by free education due to budget constraints.

This policy prompted the TSU Supreme Student Council to issue a petition on February 22 requesting an extension of the tuition payment period for students included in the “opt-out” scheme for the second semester. It also contained the council’s call to the administration to suspend the “student purging schedule” for those who cannot pay.

According to the council, their petition aims to give students with limited financial capacity enough time to pay without affecting their studies. The council officially submitted the petition to the university administration on February 26.

Prior to this, TSU students on campus launched a protest action on February 25. More than 400 participated in discussions led by the council on February 19. These actions compelled the administration to respond and move the payment deadline while temporarily halting the day of “purging.”

According to the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)-Tarlac, the TSU students’ initial victory is not due to the goodwill of the administration but is a result of student unity. However, the union considers the extension of the deadline and temporary halt of “purging” as only a “temporary relief.”

The union says students should not be content with this because as long as the “opt-out” policy remains, it will remain a threat to indigent students’ access to education. NUSP-Tarlac calls for scrapping the “opt-out” scheme and advancing the implementation of “true free education that is not based on a student’s ability to pay.”

The union calls on all councils, organizations, and students to continue their fight for free education. “The fight is not over,” it says. Along with this, it condemned the Marcos regime for insufficient budget for education which is the root of the said scheme.

The NUSP national office also extended congratulations on the initial victory. They say they are ready to continue to unite with TSU students in the future and promote a bigger education budget in the country. “As long as the rotten orientation of education remains colonial, commercialized, and repressive, our continued action for the right to education is justified,” NUSP stated.