CHED asks schools not to increase tuition

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education appealed to colleges and universities not to increase their tuition and other fees for the coming academic year 2010-2011.

CHED Central Visayas received the memorandum on the matter last February 10. The memorandum has already been disseminated yesterday to the 21 schools in the region that applied for tuition fee increase.

Dante Cabunilas, CHED-7 coordinator for tuition fee increase, said that they have already sent the memorandum to seven schools in Cebu, seven schools in Bohol and seven schools in Negros Oriental.

Schools that have applied for tuition fee increase in Cebu include Asian College of Technology, Cebu Aeronautical and Technical School, Cebu Eastern College, Cebu Roosevelt Memorial College, University of the Visayas Toledo City Campus and Velez College.

Cabunilas clarified that CHED is not mandating but only appealing to the schools not to increase their tuition fees.

CHED-7 is still waiting for the 21 schools’ feedback on the request to put into consideration the interest of students especially in this time of global crisis.

Cabunilas said that schools can increase tui-tion if student organizations and faculty agreed for it during consultations.

He advised students to be vigilant and attend consultations so they would be able to understand why tuition fee hikes have to be implemented.

Cabunilas said they can not just stop schools from increasing their fees because, sometimes, there are valid fee increases.

CHED-7 officer-in-charge Candelario Aytona said that the commission however is hoping that tui-tion fees may even decrease in schools to further help the students.

Aytona also appealed to universities and colleges in the region to increase their tuition only when the country’s economic situation becomes normal.

He said the global crisis is just temporary so schools may be able to wait until the economy recovers in one or two years.

Aytona, meanwhile, said that students should not allow their studies to be hindered by economic difficulties. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)