SIXTEEN colleges and universities in the Central Visayas will raise tuition and school fees this year, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) said.
Dr. Amelia Biglete, Ched 7 regional director, said yesterday they received petitions from 16 colleges and universities, including one municipal college, to increase their fees after they got the approval of their students and faculty.
A consultation with the student body is one of the requirements for schools to be allowed to raise tuition and school fees, Biglete said in a dyLA interview yesterday.
The increase implemented by higher education institutions (HEIs) averaged 12.37 percent, she said.
Justified
She added the adjustments were justified by the 16 HEIs as they have not applied for any increases last year when Ched asked colleges and universities in the region to observe a moratorium on rate hikes to help college students and their parents cope with the global financial crisis.
Also, with Ched's latest memorandum requiring HEIs to modernize their education programs, Biglete said the rate increases will help the 16 HEIs in improving their programs and facilities.
The adjustments will also mean increasing the salaries of the teaching staff.
The schools implementing higher rates this year are Asian College of Technology in Cebu City (18 percent), Benedicto College in Mandaue City (13 percent), Blessed Trinity College in Bohol (10 percent), Bohol Wisdom School (30 percent), Cebu Doctors' University (five percent), Cebu Institute of Technology (seven percent), Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (14. 85 percent), Foundation University in Dumaguete City (9.58 percent), La Consolacion College in Negros Oriental (15 percent), St. Louise de Marillac College in Bogo City (9.5 percent), St. Paul University in Dumaguete City (10 percent), St. Theresa's College (five percent), Trinidad Municipal College (three percent), University of San Carlos (7.98 percent), University of San Jose-Recoletos (7.5 percent) and University of Southern Philippines Foundation (seven percent).
There are 141 HEIs in Central Visayas, Biglete said.
Earlier, 95 private elementary, secondary and pre-elementary schools submitted to the Department of Education 7 their intentions to raise tuition and school fees this year. (JKV)