Tuesday, May 27, 2008 Ched: It is hard to stop tuition increase
THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched)-Southern Mindanao has admitted it is difficult to stop private schools from raising their school fees this year.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued a directive to Ched Monday to inform higher private institutions to reconsider their plans to hike tuition and other fees for this school year.
Likewise, there was an announcement that state universities and colleges will not increase their tuitions this school year.
But Dr. Leonida Calagui, Ched-Southern Mindanao director, said: "I don't think so kasi baka nag-reflect na sa enrollment nila ang increase in tuition fee,"
Calagui added, however, that Ched-Southern Mindanao will see if they can still convince school owners not to increase tuition fees the moment they receive the official directive from Ched chair Romulo Neri.
But this should be a feat considering there is only about a couple of weeks before classes start and enrollment in some schools has been going on since the start of May.
Arroyo made the order in line with the increasing food and oil prices, which are affecting household incomes and are forcing families to lessen their expenses "if not do away altogether with certain necessities."
"For us to keep producing highly skilled graduates who will lead our country in its leap to first-world status in a decade's time, government must reverse the drop-out rate and set off an environment conducive for parents to provide quality tertiary education for their children, be it in private institution or in our state universities and colleges," she said. (GLP/With Sunnex)
