Over 300 colleges, universities appeal for tuition hike next school year — CHED

Around 300 universities and colleges in the country have filed their petitions to hike their tuition next school year, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

 

In a television interview, CHED executive director Atty. Julito Vitriolo said these increases would be used to improve facilities and raise teachers' salaries.

 

“'Yung 70 o sitenta porsyento ng incremental increase or proceeds na makukuha out of the increase, dapat mapunta 'yan sa benepisyo ng mga guro at iba pang kawani. 'Yung 20 percent naman, 'yan 'yung pagi-improve ng facilities, pag-acquire ng bagong equipment, laboratories para sa instruction,” Vitriolo said in GMA News' Saksi news program late Tuesday night.  

According to CHED Memorandum Order 3 Series 2012, 70 percent of the proceeds will be used to increase payments and other benefits of teachers, personnel, and other staff, while 20 percent for improvements or modernization of buildings.

 

The guidelines also require petitioning schools to conduct consultations with students not later than February 28.

 

Vitriolo said of the petitions, those with 2 to 3 percent hike are low increases while 12 to 15 percent hikes were filed by schools with low base tuition.

 

“Mayroong 2 to 3 percent, mababa siguro 'yan. Mayroong 12 percent to 15 percent pero maliit ung base tuition,” he said.

 

GMA News Online requested for a list of universities and colleges who petitioned for a hike, but CHED has yet to compile a final list, according to its Office of Student Services.

 

 

Meanwhile, a student of a private university said tuition fee increases are burdensome to them. “Halos every year nagiincrease sila eh,” a franchise coordinator and working student Raymond Canlas said in the “Saksi” report. “Mabigat siya sa mga sa mga parents at sa mga tulad ko na working student.”

 

Ernest Francis Calayag, secretary general of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, also questioned the tuition hikes.

 

“For us students, we won't accept any increase na ganun ganun lang. Kahit sabihin nating konti ito, kahit sabihin nating kakarampot lang ang idaragdag sa kailangang bayarin, ang usapin pa rin ay meron pa ring increase na kailangang kwestiyunin,” Calayag said.

 

CHED's Vitriolo maintained that the tuition hikes got the approval of the students through consultations. “Hindi sila maaaprubahan kung walang consultation,” he said.

 

In 2012, CHED had allowed 222 of 2,181 private colleges and universities nationwide to raise their tuition rates by an average of 10 percent or P41.52 per unit when the next school year opened that year. 

 

CHED also said the national proposed average tuition for SY 2012-2013 increased by P41.52 per unit to P475.47 from P433.95.

 

Regional averages of proposed tuition that year ranged from a low of P250.74 by two schools in Region VIII or Eastern Visayas to a high of P965.05 in Metro Manila, where the increase amounts to P79.90 per unit on the average, CHED data show. — with Marc Jayson Cayabyab/GMA News