School withdraws tuition hike plan

CEBU, Philippines – The global financial crisis has pushed a school in Cebu City to withdraw its decision to increase tuition.

Velez College is one of the schools on the list of the Commission on Higher Education that filed plan to increase tuition fee for the next school year.

But because of the financial instability, Velez College changed its decision and passed a letter of intent to the CHED to have the planned tuition increase in the next semester withdrawn.

Dante Gabonilas, education supervisor II of CHED, said that they are optimistic more schools will follow the example Velez has set.

The schools will have until March 31 to pass the requirements for withdrawal of tuition hikes which include the letter of intent to withdraw, result of consultation with the students and others concerned, and certificate of compliance that in the past 70 percent of the fees go to the teachers and the 30 percent go to the maintenance and improvement of the school, Gabonilas said.

Aside from Velez, five other colleges here in the CHED list plan of raising tuition rates in June for academic year 2009-2010.

These schools are Asian College of Technology, Cebu Aeronautical Technical School, Cebu Eastern College, Cebu Roosevelt Memorial College, and Consolatrix College.

Six schools in Bohol are also seeking for tuition hikes. These are Blessed Trinity College, Bohol Northern Star College, Cristal e-College, Holy Name University, Mater Dei College, and University of Bohol.

Other schools included on CHED’s list are AMA Dumaguete Campus, Diaz College, Foundation University, La Consolacion College, Metro Dumaguete College, Negros Maritime College Foundation, Inc. and St. Joseph College of Canlaon, all in Oriental Negros. — AJ de la Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)