Catholic schools likely to raise tuition too

CHURCH-RUN educational institutions may also increase tuition fees next school year as a nationwide group of Catholic schools backed its members’ assertion that a hike would be inevitable because “quality education is expensive.”

Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) President Fr. Gregg Bañaga Jr. explained that Catholic schools that seek government permission to hike their tuition rates rarely earn extra or generate savings once an increase in matriculation fee is implemented.

He said that almost 75 percent of tuition hike is used to augment the salaries and benefits of teaching and non-teaching personnel, while 15 percent is spent on capital expenditures to upgrade school facilities and equipments.

Fr. Bañaga, who is also the president of Adamson University, said Catholic schools need to increase tuition rates primarily to keep their teachers, who are oftentimes lured to teach in public schools that give them higher salary and better benefits.

“Many teachers in private schools are going to the public schools because the government pays them better. Catholic schools keep their teachers by paying them better or competitive salaries,” he added.

A hike in fees, he stressed, is necessary to maintain quality education for students in various Catholic schools, colleges and universities nationwide.

Justified

The prelate also appealed to parents and students to understand why Catholic schools, colleges and universities are planning to hike tuition.

“Their reasons are well justified. They will not even think of raising their tuition without justification because every time they hike tuition, there is a risk of losing students and the decrease in enrollment,” he said.

Fr. Bañaga said that tuition hike for the next school year is “inevitable because quality education is expensive.”

“Quality education is costly and it is up to the parents (to find alternatives). I say to them, you don’t have to send your child directly to college. You may send them to vocational training institutes and let them finish their college degrees later on,” he added.

Based on government data, at least 300 colleges and universities have sought permission from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to increase tuition in the coming school year while some 324 higher education institutions (HEI) have reportedly implemented a 10-percent tuition increase last school year.

Expected

Earlier, Education Secretary Armin Luistro admitted that 70 private schools in Metro Manila are expected to hike tuition in June. Of the 70, 26 are secondary schools, 27 elementary schools, 16-kindergarten schools and one special education school

Luistro said the increase ranges from 5 to 15 percent.

Data from the Department of Education showed there are 1, 986 private elementary schools and 933 private secondary schools in Metro Manila.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Dr. Patricia Licuanan said at least 300 higher education institutions (HEI) have filed their petition for tuition increase.

Last year, 324 HEIs or 14.34 percent of the 2, 247 colleges and universities nationwide hiked their fees with an average increase of P36. 93 per unit or an increase of approximately 10.62 percent nationwide.

Of the 2, 247 HEIs, 110 are state universities and colleges (SUC) 424 are SUC satellite campuses, 93 local universities and colleges (LUC), 16 other types of HEIs and 1, 604 private HEIs. –Rommel C. Lontayao and Sammy Martin, Reporters, Manila Times