14 Negros Occidental schools seek tuition hike

AT LEAST 14 schools in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have submitted their intent to increase tuition this school year 2013-2014.

Director Virginia Resurreccion of the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) said her office has received petitions from schools on their intent to increase tuition.

She refused, however, to divulge the names of the schools pending their submission of their compliance to guidelines set by Ched for the increase.

Resurreccion was in Kabankalan City Friday last week for the launching program of the Central Philippines State University, formerly the Negros State College of Agriculture, which has been upgraded to university status.

She said one of the highlights of the Ched guidelines on tuition hike is for the schools to initiate a consultation with the students on their plans to determine how much increase would be appropriate.

Resurreccion also refused to divulge the percentage of the increase to be granted by Ched.

Reports stated that 34 higher education institutions in Western Visayas planned to increase their tuition and other fees for school year 2013-2014.

There are eight in Bacolod City, two each in Aklan and Antique provinces, and six in Negros Occidental.

These schools intend to increase tuition and/or other school fees from five to 10 percent.

The Ched office in Western Visayas will identify and give the final number of these universities and colleges on April 1.

Five requirements must be complied before schools can increase their tuition, namely: submission of letter of advice to Ched stating they will have a tuition hike, certificate of compliance if they increased tuition in previous school year, certificate of intended compliance, consultations conducted, and list of those who attended the consultations. (TDE)