Bill seeks to regulate tuition, school fees

MANILA, Philippines - With the almost yearly tuition and school fee hikes in the country, a legislator has filed a bill which seeks to regulate such school expenses.

 

Tarlac Rep.Susan Yap said House Bill 4675 will establish the “Tuition Fee Rationalization Council,” which shall serve as the highest policy-making body on matters pertaining to tuition rates and other increases or adjustments in school fees.

 

The bill imposes  five years imprisonment and a fine of not more than P1 million against violators.

 

 Yap said Republic Act 6139 on tuition fee, which was enacted in 1970, has become unresponsive given reported cases of irrational tuition fee increases that contribute to the prohibitive cost of education, jeopardizing the access of a wide majority to quality education.

 

“RA 6139 only defines the regulatory regime for tuition fee increases in private educational institutions, leaving public educational institutions unregulated,” Yap said.

 

Under the bill, Yap said public and private academic and technical institutions shall be allowed to impose tuition increases and adjustments but not to exceed 15 percent of prevailing rates on incoming freshmen students in the tertiary level only.

 

Any proposed tuition hike or adjustment in excess of the stipulated percentage affecting not only the segment of the students stated but all other years level including those to be imposed by the state universities and colleges shall be subject to the approval of the National Tuition Fee Rationalization Council (NTRFAC) or its regional council having jurisdiction and on a case-to-case basis.

 

An imposition of more than 15 percent in tuition and 25 percent in the case of miscellaneous fees may be allowed after the concerned schools shall have conducted thorough consultations and hearings, and the examination of financial records and the determination of the distinct requirements and conditions of schools shall have been assessed by the council.

 

Schools or courses classified under Level III Accreditation and whose categorization standards are duly affirmed by the major association of private and state institutions, shall enjoy autonomy in fixing the rates of their tuition fees or any rates increase or adjustment with respect to the accredited programs or courses only and subject to minimal and reasonable guidelines from the council.

 

Under the bill, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skill Development Authority (TESDA) shall be empowered to investigate violations as well as the power to summon witnesses and the production of documents in connection with the charges against violating schools.

 

Within 30 days after the effectivity of the measure, the NTRFAC shall be established to be chaired CHED; the Director-General of TESDA as vice-chairman.

 

The members of the council include the chairmen of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, and Senate Committee on Education, the representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority, and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, a representative each from parents, university and college student council, campus publication, faculty association, leading association of higher education institutions, major aggrupation of technical education institution as well as other sectors which may be deemed indispensable by the council.