267 HEIs to raise tuition this year, CHED reports

SOME 267 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are set to increase tuition this year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Wednesday.

According to latest figures released as of May 31, a total of 289 HEIs applied for tuition increase but due to various reasons, 22 HEIs did not make the cut. The average tuition increase is reported at 10.11 percent, or an average per unit increase of P40.47.

CHED National Capital Region (NCR) said it had approved the tuition increase application of 64 HEIs out of the 308 private HEIs it monitors. From last school year’s fee, they posted an average tuition increase of 7.5 percent or an average per unit increase of P76.25.

While CHED-NCR had the biggest share of private HEIs, it presented the lowest percentage increase among the regions but the highest in terms of peso equivalent.

CHED Regional Office II-Cagayan Valley posted the highest average tuition increase of 16.37 percent, or an average per unit increase of P54. CHED Region 8-Tacloban posted the lowest per unit increase of P20.86 or an average tuition increase of 8.94 percent.

Come school year 2013-14, data on tuition increases released by CHED will include miscellaneous and other school fees.

This is attributed to CHED’s enhanced set of guidelines for tuition and other fees under CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) 3, series of 2012.

Among the salient features of the CMO are the inclusion of miscellaneous fees during tuition consultations and in cases of violation, the commission may impose penalties and sanctions against erring schools and its responsible officers such as the revocation of permits, downgrading of status, phase-out and other penalties after due process. –Businessmirror