WITH the opening of classes in August, 18-year-old Kate Denolang, an incoming fourth year student of Bachelor of Arts in Communication Major in Media Communication in St. Theresa’s College, in Cebu City expects that tuition will increase.
She said that the management of their school called to a meeting their parents and officials of the student council last March to inform them of the tuition increase, which will start in the first semester this year.
She said that their tuition fee in one semester will already reach more than P30,000, especially if the student has a full study load.
She said she pities her mother, Josephine, because of the additional expense, more so that the latter is supporting her two younger siblings who are incoming Grade 7 and Grade 3 students.
She said her mother works as a laboratory receptionist in Mandaue City Hospital.
“Pero ig ingon nako sa akong mama, tuition fee increase na sad, moingon ra man siya, ‘okay ra na, pangitaan ra na nato og paagi.’ So, dili na lang sad ko maguol,” Denolang said.
Out of the 158 higher education institutions (HEI) in Central Visayas, 29 colleges and universities informed the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) that they will increase their tuition this school year.
Of the 29, 16 schools will increase their schools fees for the incoming first year college students while 13 will increase the fees for the incoming second year college students and above.
Ched 7 Director Freddie Bernal, however, clarified that the list is not yet final since any plans to increase tuition need an approval from their central office.
The schools also have to comply with several requirements.
This includes a copy of the letter of advice informing the students’ parents that the school plans to increase their tuition; conducting a consultation about the matter with the parents, students and officials of Ched; and submitting a comparative schedule of the present tuition and the planned increase, among many others.
Under Memorandum Order No. 3 Series of 2012, Ched said that 70 percent of the income generated from the increase in tuition fees and other school fees should be used for the payment of increase in the salaries of teachers and non-teaching personnel; 20 percent for the maintenance and improvement of equipment, buildings, libraries and other similar facilities; and 10 percent will be set aside as return of investment for the stockholders of HEIs.