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Thursday, May 08, 2008
Ched sees increase in tuition this year
MANILA -- With the increase in the country's inflation rate, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) is predicting an eight to 10 percent increase in tuition this coming school year.
Ched deputy executive director Julito Vitriolo said they do not expect tuition to skyrocket this year, even if they had suspended the implementation of Ched Memorandum 14 (CM) issued two years ago prohibiting private schools from increasing their tuition above the inflation rate.
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"I daresay that the increase would only be around eight to 10 percent," Vitriolo said.
He, however, said that they are looking at a measly 20 percent of the total number of colleges and state universities that would be asking for an increase.
"In terms of institutions, perhaps the schools who would be seeking an increase would only be around 20 percent because of the economic impact," he added.
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Vitriolo said schools would definitely consider humanitarian reasons for the coming year due to the current crisis that the country is facing.
Earlier, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said inflation rose to 8.3 percent last month, the highest rate since the 8.5 percent posted in May 2005.
With this development, inflation for the first four months reached 6.2 percent, which is significantly above the 3.5 percent target range for 2008, Neda said.
Vitriolo said if schools increase tuition more than what is being expected of them, they stand to lose their students.
He cited Ched records, which showed a major drop in the number of students who enrolled in private schools as it went down to 60 percent from 85 percent last school year.
There are about 1,452 colleges and universities, both public and private, in the country at present.
Vitriolo said several schools have launched "gimmicks" or promotions to help prop up the number of their enrollees as they noticed their dwindling number of students.
"There are schools that launched a P500 enrollment as others say they have a zero interest. It's really a cutthroat competition out there so I don't think they will increase much," he said.
According to Vitriolo, their regional offices have until May 15 to file the list of schools that sought for an increase in tuition. Until Wednesday afternoon, no one has filed.
He said they expect to release the report on May 16 or 19.
Ched issued Memorandum Order (MO) 16, which identifies the guidelines to be followed in processing applications of higher education institutions, intending to increase tuition and other fees for school year 2008-2009.
Among the strict guidelines imposed by Ched include the implementation of CMO 13, which is that of a consultation with all the players involved in the education sector.
This means parents and students should have their inputs and their nod first before having any increase in tuition.
It also tasked the Ched National Capital Region (NCR) and other regional offices to monitor the school's compliance with the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (Gastpe) Law, which provides that five percent of its annual student population should be given scholarship privileges.
Youth and students groups expressed alarm over the possibility of a "skyrocketing" tuition increase in the coming school year after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the suspension of Ched MO, pegging the tuition increase not beyond the current national inflation rate.
Their reaction came after confirming that Arroyo signed an order reaffirming Ched CMO 13, setting the guidelines for tuition increase. (AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (May 8, 2008 issue)
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