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By James Konstantin Galvez, Reporter
AROUND 50 private elementary
schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) have already filed
their application with the Department of Education-NCR to increase
their tuition fee this coming school year.
“We expect any increase in that
range since the school owners know that any increase beyond that
would result to a decline in their enrolment,” said DepEd-NCR
Director Teresita Domalanta, adding that the tuition fee increase
may range from 2 percent to 10 percent this school year.
“Nauunawaan naman nila na medyo
mahirap ang buhay ngayon kaya di naman sila magtataas ng masyado sa
tuition at iba pang mga bayarin [As they are aware that living
conditions are not easy these days, the increase should not be too
much],” she added.
As of Thursday, Domalanta said 53
private elementary schools have already filed their petition.
The official said they are still
in the process of updating the petition filed by secondary schools.
The deadline for the submission
of the petition is on May 15.
There are around 1,000 private
elementary and secondary schools in Metro Manila.
DepEd said it allows schools to
hike their tuition provided it is in accordance with their
regulation and that majority of the increase would go to the
upgrading of school equipment and salaries of the teachers.
“They will have to show in
detail where and how they will use the increase since they have to
consult with the parents first, as well as other stakeholders,”
Domalanta said.
She said her office will strictly
monitor compliance with the 70-20-10 requirements namely that 70
percent of any tuition fee increase should go to the upgrading of
school equipment, 20 percent for the acquisition of textbooks and
other equipment and 10 percent for salary upgrade of the faculty.
Among the schools that have
already filed their petition were the Saint Theresa’s College,
having filed an increase of 5 percent, Saint Joseph’s College (10
percent), Trinity University of Asia (8 percent) and Ateneo de
Manila with 6 percent.
In Manila, the Malate Catholic
School is asking for an 11-percent hike followed by the University
of the East and Letran who are both seeking a 10-percent increase.
But another official who
requested anonymity said as of today there are three schools asking
as much as a 20-percent increase.
These are the Las Piñas College
(25 percent), Batasan Chunan Christian School (26 percent to 29
percent), and the Southeastern College (36 percent to 47 percent).
Domalanta said even this hike
should be taken in the proper context, adding that tuition fees in
these schools were below the standard compared to other
institutions.
Earlier, the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) said they expect an 8 to 10 percent increase in
tuition fees this school year for higher education institutions in
the country.
Atty. Julito Vitriolo, deputy
executive director of CHED said they are looking at a measly 20
percent, the total number of colleges and state universities who
would be asking for an increase.
There are about 1,452 colleges
and universities, both public and private, in the country at
present.
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