Flexible tuition payment pushed

President Arroyo has ordered the Commission on Higher Education to drop the “no-payment, no-periodical examination” policy and adopt instead a “flexible, socially sensitive” tuition payment plan for all state colleges and universities.

Mrs. Arroyo signed Executive Order 792 that also directed Ched to expand the coverage of the Students’ Assistance Fund for Education.

Beneficiaries of the program should receive a monthly stipend to subsidize the students’ transport fares, and laboratory, research and book allowance, on top of the free tuition,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said there has been a strong clamor to address the rigid tuition payment rules of state colleges and universities to ensure a decent graduation rate from enrollees.

The no-payment, no-periodic examination policy is one of the main reasons young students from poor families drop out from state colleges and universities.

“Rigid tuition payment rules cannot be allowed to sabotage the great educational agenda of the administration,” the President said.

Earlier, Ched chairman Emmanuel Angeles said the number of colleges and universities seeking tuition increases for the coming school year has been declining.

Angeles said the number has gone down to less than 200, or about half of the 383 universities and colleges that raised tuition last year.

Angeles said the tuition hike requests range from 5 percent to 10 percent. There are 1,726 universities and colleges and nationwide.–Joyce Pangco Pañares, Manila Standard Today