The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has set an ambitious target: more than 394,000 senior high school graduates are expected to enroll in college for Academic Year 2026–2027. Chairperson Shirley Agrupis announced that 20,000 scholarship slots will be available for the first semester, with additional support through the Presidential Merit Scholarship for the top five percent of graduating classes. Students may also seek assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

At first glance, this sounds encouraging. It suggests that government is serious about expanding access to higher education. But the reality on the ground tells a different story. In the Philippines, not every child completes elementary school. Many who finish high school cannot afford college. And even those who manage to enroll often drop out, forced to work and support their families. Education—supposed to be the bridge to a better future—has become a luxury for ordinary Filipinos. 

This is why the numbers deserve closer examination. If nearly 400,000 students are expected to enroll, is 20,000 scholarship slots enough? What happens to those outside the top five percent? How about the children of farmers, jeepney drivers, or market vendors who may not qualify under “priority fields” defined by government programs? Education should not be a privilege reserved for the few; it must remain a right accessible to all. 

The challenge is not simply to provide scholarships but to ensure that every student has the capacity to finish their studies. When young people are forced to abandon education in favor of immediate livelihood, dreams are deferred and opportunities lost. If education continues to drift farther from the masses, the nation’s future will remain shackled to poverty. 

This issue is not about statistics alone. It is about the future of every Juan and Maria who hope that a diploma will unlock a better life. If government promises cannot guarantee this, then they ring hollow. 

In the end, the true wealth of a nation is not measured by the number of scholarship slots, but by the assurance that every child has a fair chance to graduate and begin a brighter tomorrow. Because education is not just about diplomas—it is about sustaining our ‘palabigasan’, the livelihood and dignity of Filipino families.