95 NCR colleges, universities seek hikes in tuition, other fees

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — At least 95 institutions of higher learning in the National Capital Region have applied with the Commission on Higher Education for increases in their tuition and other fees in the next academic year, Kabataan party-list said.

Kabataan Representative Raymond Palatino said CHEd disclosed the information at the March 21 Regional Multisectoral Committee on Tuition and Other Fees it convened and which was attended by representatives from public and private universities, faculty unions, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the National Union of Students of the Philippines.

During the last academic year, CHEd received over 2,000 applications for tuition increases nationwide and approved almost 300.

Palatino slammed the agency, saying: “Year after year, CHEd fails to implement tuition regulation policies, in effect serving as a mere stamp pad for pre-approved fee hikes.”

The NUSP called the March 21 meeting a “belated move” since consultations on proposed fee increases in various colleges and universities are over.

At the RMCTOF meeting, CHEd said it would look into complaints filed by student groups against “bogus” tuition increase consultations.

On March 8, the NUSP filed a complaint with CHEd detailing how top schools like the University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University and University of the East conducted allegedly “bogus consultations.”

In its complaint, the NUSP questioned the tuition hike proposals of the following universities, among others:

• University of Sto. Tomas: 5-percent tuition hike
• University of the East-Recto: 5-percent tuition hike
• Lyceum University of the Philippines: 5-percent tuition hike
• University of the East-Caloocan: 3.5-percent tuition hike
• Colegio de San Juan de Letran: 8 to 10-percent tuition hike
• De La Salle University-Araneta: 5-percent tuition hike
• Adamson University: 10-percent tuition hike

Last year, CHEd released Memorandum Order No. 3, Series of 2012 that laid down stricter guidelines for the imposition of new or higher fees.

The memorandum explicitly requires schools to inform students of impending hikes and conduct consultations before submitting their proposals to CHEd.

In 2011, Palatino filed House Bill 3708, which seeks a three-year moratorium on tuition increases and charges government with shouldering any funds needed by public educational institutions for the period.

“CHED’s lackadaisical attitude towards implementing tuition increase regulations has largely contributed to the unabated tuition hikes in the country and the suffering of hundreds of thousands of students and families that cannot afford the skyrocketing cost of education,” Palatino said.

“The case of UP Manila student Kristel Tejada has only proved that education in the Philippines has become a commodity that only the rich can afford. Stricter regulation should be implemented and anti-student tuition policies should be scrapped immediately,” he added. –Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com