CHED okays increase in 28 colleges, universities in Cebu
Twenty-eight colleges and universities in Cebu will be raising their tuition this school year.
Dr. Freddie Bernal, regional director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), confirmed that their applications for an increase were approved.
The increase will range from P11 to P298 per unit or subject.
Among those raising the tuition are the University of San Carlos, University of Cebu, Southwestern University, University of the Visayas, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu Institute of Technology-University, Cebu Institute of Medicine and Cebu Doctors’ University.
The applications of four other schools were denied. Bernal said they failed to submit the requirements on time.
In Cebu, St. Theresa’s College and AMA College Cebu Campus will have to maintain their tuition. Also denied were the Asian College of Science and Technology and AMA campus in Dumaguete.
Bernal said nine other higher education institutions (HEI) – six in Bohol and three in Negros Oriental – were also given the green light to adjust tuition.
“We regulate but we cannot put a cap. We cannot put a stop to a tuition fee increase,” said Bernal. All the documents have been submitted to the CHED central office for consolidation.
Bernal said 70 percent of the proceeds from the increase will go to salaries and wages of the faculty while 20 percent will be used to improve facilities like libraries and gyms as required by DepEd policy.
The balance will go to the institution as return of investment (ROI).
“These are mostly private schools. They are not subsidized by the government. Where else will they get funds to develop the school in complying the requirements of the government in terms of qualified classrooms and faculties?” said Bernal.
CHED announced last week that 41 institutions in Central Visayas have applied for tuition fee increases.
A protest rally outside the CHED regional office was staged by over a dozen student leaders and teachers to oppose the tuition hike.
Niño Olayvar of Anakbayan Cebu criticized the CHED’s deregulation of tuition increases.
“As long as there is a consultation held and requirements are met, they automatically approve it.The DepEd office becomes a conduit for schools to raise tuition,”he said.
They also opposed the implementation of the K-12 program.
They were invited to a dialog inside the conference room.
Marcial Degamo, chief of Quality Assurance Division of DepEd-7, said they were willing to listen to the students’ concerns over K-12 such as physical readiness of schools to implement the program and the additional costs that will be incurred for families.
“We have to push through with K-12. Our teachers are undergoing training for it. Our preparations on the 5th year of implementing K-12 preparation should not be taken for granted or just stopped like that,” he said.
Degamo said a P2 billion budget is available for the construction of more classrooms for Grade 11 to be handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He said the reform is needed because the Philippines is the only country in the Asean region that has not adhered to international education standards of basic education.