Insider Spotlight
The country's largest private higher education network by enrollment said nearly three in every 10 Filipino students who begin college fail to complete their studies, limiting access to one of the country's primary pathways for social and economic mobility.
Drawing from feedback from its 2023 student cohort, the institution cited financial constraints and academic difficulty as the leading reasons students leave school.
The big picture
PHINMA Education said these challenges often stem from disadvantages that begin in early childhood, including nutrition and literacy gaps, before affecting higher education participation and completion.
To address financial barriers, the institution offers scholarship programs such as the Hawak Kamay Scholarship in the Philippines, which lowers tuition in selected programs to as little as P5,500 per semester without entrance examinations or maintaining grade requirements.
In Indonesia, its Sahabat Horizon Scholarship provides recipients with up to 50 percent tuition coverage. The institution also focuses on teaching methods that emphasize active learning while providing students with guidance and support throughout their college journey.
"As Ambisyon Natin 2040 reminds us, higher education remains one of the strongest pathways to a better life. Yet today, it remains elusive for many young people whose aspirations are put on hold—not because they lack talent or determination, but because of barriers that they face early in life,” PHINMA Education chair Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. said during the press briefing.
For over 20 years, PHINMA Education has worked with these students, many of whom are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. One lesson has become clear: access alone is not enough. There must be continuing accessibility—from enrollment to graduation and, ultimately, employment,” Del Rosario added.
“We believe that every student, regardless of their background, has the potential to succeed. That's the philosophy we operate by. We're grateful for the progress we've made, but we're not there yet,” PHINMA Education president and CEO Chito B. Salazar said.
“If 99 students succeed and one doesn't, we continue to suffer for the one we lost. We continue to push ourselves because our goal is for social mobility among the underserved to become the norm,” Salazar said.
Why it matters
The institution said its approach has produced a 92 percent first-time overall board examination passing rate in the Philippines, including 100 percent passing rates in Nursing, Secondary Education, Pharmacy, Medical Technology, Elementary Education, Accountancy, Criminology, Psychometrician and Physical Therapy.
It also reported a 99-percent first-time passing rate in Indonesia, while 77 percent of graduates in the Philippines and 84 percent in Indonesia secure employment within one year after graduation.
PHINMA Education is also expanding partnerships to support student success beyond the classroom. Its agreement with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) reserves scholarships across 12 PHINMA Education schools for qualified dependents of Napolcom and Philippine National Police employees.
Meanwhile, its collaboration with Reed Elsevier Philippines provides internship opportunities for students, with some participants later securing full-time employment within the company.
The education network has produced 104,669 college graduates and 48,327 licensed professionals since 2004 while serving approximately 178,000 students across the Philippines and Indonesia. —Vanessa Hidalgo| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
