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DepEd reminds private schools: Hike in tuition, miscellaneous fees must undergo consultation


Private schools in the county which would implement an increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees should first get the nod of the parents before doing so, according to Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo on Wednesday.

"'Yung tuition fee po sa ating patakaran, kung itataas po iyan dapat 70% niyan ay pupunta sa salary ng mga teacher natin. Ang tumataas po ngayon ay mga miscellaneous fees po... 'yung tinatawag na library fee, baka ang dine-develop na ngayon 'yung e-library na tinatawag," Mateo said in a virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

"Pero ang sabi natin sa private schools po, mag-submit muna po kayo ng inyong learning continuity plan. 'Yung inyong proposal ay ayon dapat sa pag-uusap ninyo sa mga magulang, sa consultation," he added.

Mateo said some private learning institutions might resort to hike in fees to prevent total shutdown amid the pandemic.

"Kailangan balansehin natin ang interes ng mga magulang at interes ng mga empleyado sa mga pribadong paaralan kasi may pamilya rin po iyan eh," he said.

"'Yung mga private school rin, nangangailangan din ng tulong. 'Yun lang ang pamamaraan nila para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga guro at kanilang mga non-teaching staff," he added.

Nonetheless, Mateo said the Department of Education will be ready to welcome transferees from private schools, in case their families can no longer afford the tuition and other fees.

"Kung hindi talaga kakayanin, mas lalo na ang mga OFW, pwede po silang mag-transfer sa public schools po. Handa naman tayo diyan," he said.

Four million out of the total 27 million basic education learners in the Philippines are enrolled in private schools, according to the Coordinating Council for Private Educational Associations of the Philippines.

However, around two million of them are expected to transfer to public schools this year due to the economic impact of COVID-19.

More than 50,000 workers in private schools in the country are also in need of financial assistance, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.—AOL, GMA News
 

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