Group of private schools: We've already raised tuition

MANILA, Philippines - A group of private schools on Monday said that its members cannot stop the tuition increases as they have already finished the enrollment period. This came from a member of the board of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Association (COCOPEA) who added that the increases have already been approved by the Commission on Higher Education or CHED. The remark came hours after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced that state colleges would not be hiking their fees. She also ordered CHED to appeal to private school owners for a freeze on tuition hikes. Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) Program officer Ines Bansain - quoting COCOPEA chairman and CEAP President Fr. Roderick Salazar - said that “it’s just an appeal by the President and that they (private schools) cannot proceed with the suspension of tuition fee increase anymore since they are already finish with the enrollment period." Bansain also said that consultations with the parents, students and other education representatives for tuition fee increases have been held and that the increases have already been approved by CHED. COCOPEA - which counts as its members PAPSCU, CEAP, Association of Christian Schools Colleges and Universities (ACSCU), the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) and the Technical-Vocational Schools Association of the Philippines (TEVSAPHIL) will hold an emergency meeting regarding the issue. Meanwhile, another group of school owners have adopted a “wait-and-see" attitude regarding Arroyo's appeal for them to “reconsider" tuition fee hike this school year. This came from Dr. Jose Paulo Campos, president of the Philippine Association of Private Schools Colleges and Universities (PAPSCU) and the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC). He said that he would have to consult with all the group’s members regarding Malacanang’s directive before making any decision on the matter. “Sa ngayon di pa kami makagpalabas ng anumang desisiyon dahil sa hindi pa kami nagmi-meeting. Mag-uusap muna kami ng mga myembro tungkol sa bagay na iyan," Campos said. But he said that private school owners are reasonable when it comes to raising tuition and other fees adding that they also understand the plight of the parents who have children to enroll this school year. “Ang mga school owners naman ay reasonable. We are not out to squeeze blood out of a lemon. Binabalanse naman namin ang anumang tuition fee increase," Campos said. - GMANews.TV