DepEd to use regulatory powers vs schools with excessive tuition hike

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) warned private schools yesterday that the agency would use its regulatory powers against schools that will not practice self-restraint in imposing tuition hikes for school year 2009-10.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus issued a department memorandum order that reminded private schools of the consultation and notification requirements before the imposition of tuition fee increases.

He, however, expressed confidence that private schools will refrain from imposing tuition fee hikes in view of the grim economic conditions.

Lapus said that DepEd would not hesitate to use its regulatory powers to protect the interest of students.

“DepEd central and field offices will monitor closely any tuition fee increases pro–posed by private schools,” Lapus said.

Steep tuition hikes in private schools are expected to aggravate the problem of migration of students from private schools to public schools. The number of students moving from private schools to public schools has significantly increased in the past couple of years due to the ever-growing cost of tuition fees in private schools.

The migration of students from private schools to public schools compounds the problem of DepEd in resolving classroom congestion and the acute shortage of teachers and other resources such as textbooks, classrooms, school buildings and school furniture.

The DepEd has expanded the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program wherein it provides P5,000 vouchers to students in private schools to help them stay in their respective private schools.

Lapus said that DepEd has allocated P3.5 billion for GASTPE for 2009.- Rainier Allan Ronda, Philippine Star