Marilyn Cahatol

Students of the City University of Pasay arrive for their commencement exercises at the Philippine International  Convention Center (PICC) on July 10, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — There is a proliferation of &quot;colorum&quot; institutions offering fake graduate degrees, said Dr. Karol Mark Yee, executive director of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom 2).</p><p>Yee called out diploma mills, which he said are a big factor in the &quot;miseducation of the country.&quot;</p><p>Diploma mills are that sell degrees to students who do not have the academic rigor required of the discipline.</p><p>&quot;Diploma mills malaking problema natin. We have called the attention of CHED, sa pag-aaral kasama ang Ateneo na napakaraming colleges and universities na nag-ooffer ng Masters and PHD, medyo colorum po, hindi nababantayan,&quot; Yee said on Saturday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/3/ched-urged-to-address-problem-of-diploma-mills-victimizing-teachers-1629">CHED urged to address problem of diploma mills victimizing teachers</a></div><p>Yee said some institutions need students to just pay for pre-made dissertations, while some require Lacoste shirts in exchange for a degree.</p><p>&quot;Meron nga po isang university sa Palawan, libu-libo ang nag-graduate pero ilang buwan lang nag-aral. Napakaraming report na natanggap na pag-enroll ng isang estudyante, hiningan daw ng Lacoste t-shirts para sa lahat ng panel, ipapasa na sya, bibigyan ng degree,&quot; he added.</p><p>&quot;Pagdating po niya, gawa na yung dissertation, babayaran na lang niya. Ito ang dahilan din sa ating miseducation kasi kung yung diploma mo ay fake, wala talang tamang pagkatuto na naibigay sa mga graduates, problematic talaga yon,&quot; Yee said.</p><p>Yee said they have pointed out the problem to the Commission on Higher Education, which promised to work with the Professional Regulation Commission and the Department of Education to will revisit and audit all graduate programs in a span of two years.</p><p>&quot;Imo-monitor tas kapag hindi compliant, ipasasara,&quot; Yee said.</p><p>Yee presented some highlights of the final report of the commission, which points out several problems of the basic education sector that led to poor literacy rates.</p><p>Aside from key problems of stunting and shortage of classrooms, Yee also pointed out class suspensions and other celebrations as factors.</p><p>&quot;Nakita po natin sa datos, 30-50 days ang suspensions per school year, so ibig sabihin, almost one full quarter, tanggal kada school year dahil lang sa school suspensions,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/26/malnutrition-mass-promotion-lack-of-books-all-linked-to-learning-crisis-prof-1528">Malnutrition, &#x27;mass promotion&#x27;, lack of books all linked to learning crisis - prof</a></div><p>Aside from weather disturbances, there are also several celebrations that eventually cancel classes so students may devote time for preparations and practice.</p><p>&quot;Nakita rin natin sa last report na 150 ang iba&#x27;t ibang class celebration na kailangan i-implement. Merong Linggo ng Kasuotang Pilipino, National Kidney Month, iba&#x27;t ibang bagay,&quot; Yee said.</p><p>&quot;Minsan kahit isang banggit lang yan sa flag ceremony, isang linggo nagpa-practice, nag-cancel ng class para sa event. Maraming araw hindi talaga nakatutok sa pagkatuto ng mga bata,&quot; he added.</p><p>Yee said literacy problems are more pronounced at the high school level, where students advance to Grades 8-10 without knowing how to properly subtract.</p><p>&quot;Sa konteksto ng mass promotion, hindi man gustuhin ng teacher, maipapasa ang bata,&quot; Yee said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/deped-s-three-term-school-year-proposal-draws-scrutiny-pushback-at-house-hearing-1531">DepEd’s ‘three-term school year’ proposal draws scrutiny, pushback at House hearing</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7BdqeCv-NaY?si=2hi_QLGu0WyMWcTk" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>There is a proliferation of "colorum" institutions offering fake graduate degrees, said Dr. Karol Mark Yee, executive director of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom 2).</p>

There is a proliferation of "colorum" institutions offering fake graduate degrees, said Dr. Karol Mark Yee, executive director of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom 2).

Graduate degrees for sale? EdCom2 calls out diploma mills as factor in miseducation

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Graduate degrees for sale? EdCom2 calls out diploma mills as factor in miseducation

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 28, 2026 03:37 PM PHT

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Graduate School

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