DepEd approves hikes in tuition, other fees in 1,246 private schools

The Department of Education has approved tuition and miscellaneous fees increases by 1,246 private schools that offer basic education.

According to data presented by DepEd, 1,556 schools requested approval for fee hikes out of 15,831 private schools nationwide.

Region III, or Central Luzon, has the most tuition and fees hike applicants but only 257 were approved. Region IV-B, or Mimaropa, followed with 270 hike requests, 264 were granted.

The National Capital Region came in third with 171 applicants, of which only 139 were allowed to charge higher fees.

Last year, DepEd approved tuition and fees hikes in 1,299 private schools.

The department said the tuition and miscellaneous fees increases can be as low as 1.25 percent or could reach as high as 29 percent.

The increase in tuition and fees was announced a few days before the academic year for the public school system starts on June 1.

Private schools can choose to start classes between June 1 and August 31.

According to DepEd’s Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in Basic Education, 70 percent of any tuition and fees increase should be allocated for the payment of salaries, wages, allowances, and other benefits to members of the faculty and other employees.

It added that hikes should also achieve a balance in institutional development, student assistance and extension services and the return on investment that should not exceed 12 percent of the incremental proceeds. — Trisha Macas with report from Tuesday Niu, graphic by Analyn Perez/JDS/NB/ELR, GMA News
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