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By James Konstantin Galvez, Reporter
COMMISSION on Higher Education (CHED) Deputy
Executive Director Julito Vitriolo on Wednesday expressed belief
that there will only be an 8 percent to 10 percent increase in
tuition fees this year despite the lifting of the tuition fee cap.
“The agency does not expect any skyrocketing
increase in the tuition fees. I daresay that the increase would only
be around 8 percent to 10 percent,” Vitriolo said.
The agency has suspended CHED Memorandum (CMO)
14, s. of 2005 and 42, s. of 2006, and CMO 7, s. of 2007 that
prohibit private schools from increasing their tuition fees above
the inflation rate, lately pegged at 8.5 percent.
Vitriolo said their regional offices have until
May 15 to come up with a list of schools that sought for an increase
in tuition fees, adding CHED hopes to release the report on May 16
or 19.
CHED issued Memorandum Order No. 16, which
identifies the guidelines to be followed in processing applications
of higher education institutions intending to increase tuition and
other fees for SY 2008-2009.
CHED has released Memorandum Order 13 that
provides for a consultation with all the players involved in the
education sector. In this case, parents and students have to agree
with the increase in tuition fees before it can be implemented.
It also tasked the CHED NCR and regional
offices to monitor the school’s compliance with the GASTPE Law
Provision that at least 5 percent of its student population should
be given scholarship privileges.
Vitriolo claimed that universities and
colleges will definitely rethink the current situation in the
country and consider humanitarian reasons, adding that they are
looking at a measly 20 percent of schools that would ask for a
tuition fee increase.
“In terms of institutions, perhaps the schools
who would be seeking an increase would only be around 20 percent
because of the economic impact. Mahirap ngayon ang economy and
mahirap ang buhay, so maraming hindi makaka-afford [The economy is
hard up, and life is difficult, so many cannot afford [the
increase],” he added.
He warned schools from implementing a much
higher schedule of tuition fees, saying that schools will lose their
students if fees are raised beyond what parents can afford to pay.
“Bumaba ang enrollment sa private sector ng 85
percent ngayon mula sa 60 percent dahil naglipatan na sa SUCs (State
Universities and Colleges) dahil mura ang tuition dun. Ang iba naman
nag-drop out na, habang nagtrabaho na lang ang iba [The enrollment
in private schools went down to 60 percent since more students
transferred to state universities and colleges where tuition is
lower. Others dropped out, while the rest decided to work],” he
added.
Vitrolo said that several schools have already
launched “gimmicks” or promotions to increase enrollment.
“It’s really cut-throat competition out
there, kaya I don’t think magtataas sila ng malaki [hence, I
don’t think they will raise fees heftily],” he said.
Earlier, students groups had expressed alarm
over “skyrocketing” fees this coming school year after
confirming that President Gloria Arroyo ordered the suspension of
CMO 13 setting the guidelines for tuition fee increase minus the
tuition fee cap.
“By reaffirming CHED Memo Order 13, the
government gave a go-signal to school owners to increase their
tuition and miscellaneous fee rate and impose new school fees at
their own whim. While the guidelines provide for consultations with
students, unresolved complaints filed by student councils from
different schools at CHED already show how inutile the process
is,” Kabataang Pinoy said in a statement.
The group said the new Malacañang order only
lead to further decline in the preliminary enrollment figures in
coming school years brought about by a huge “gap” between the
increasing cost of education in the country and the financial
capacity of Filipino families to send their children to school.
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