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Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Studes seek revocation of tuition fee hike
By Rimaliza Opiña
THE National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) on Tuesday asked the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to repeal Memorandum Order 14-2005, which contains the guidelines and procedures on tuition and other school fee increases.
NUSP Baguio-Benguet chapter president John Panem said the memorandum might set a precedent among higher education institutions to increase school fees even without the benefit of a consultation with concerned students.
Article 3, Section 8 of MO 14-2005 states that any increase in tuition and other fees should not be more than the prevailing national inflation rate. An increase, which is higher than the inflation rate, shall be subject to a consultation and approval by Ched.
Section 10 of the same article does not require any consultation if the increase applied for is less than or equivalent to the rate of the prevailing year's national inflation rate as determined by the National Economic Development Authority (Neda). Also, consultation will not cover tuition increase for incoming freshmen.
Panem said this is a laxity on the part of the Ched for it practically allows a yearly increase in tuition. "Schools might take advantage because inflation also happens on a yearly basis," he said.
The country has a 7.6 percent average annual inflation rate.
A separate appeal was filed by NUSP and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) before the committee on higher and technical education for a review of MO 14-2005.
Of the 14 higher education institutions in the region, the Ched already approved the proposal of six schools to increase tuition and other fees for school year 2006-2007.
As of April 17, schools with approved tuition increases include the Saint Louis University - seven percent, Luzon Nazarene Bible College - 17.8 percent, Baguio Arts Theological College - 100 percent, University of Baguio - 7.6 percent, Baguio-Benguet Christian College - 5.4 percent and Cordillera Career Development College - 3.9 percent.
(May 3, 2006 issue)
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