CHED-7: Tuition fee hike does not affect SUCs

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region-7 assured that the possible tuition fee hike in some Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Central Visayas for the coming academic year will not affect the government’s drive towards free tuition in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

"Ang free tuition sa SUCs. Ang private naman they are depending on the tuition and other fees unless i-subsidize ng state ang private school which is unconstitutional naman iyon," said CHED-7 Director Freddie Bernal.

Around seven private HEIs in Cebu province have applied for tuition fee increase in all levels, while one school in Bohol and at least three schools in Cebu have applied for increase in tuition fees for incoming freshmen students only.

CHED Memorandum Order No. 3 Series of 2012, under Article 2, Section 2 covers policies, guidelines and procedures regarding increase in tuition and other school fees including the introduction of new fees, in both public and private HEIs.

According to Bernal, based on last year’s data, schools increased tuition fees to as much as seven percent only and intended mostly to augment teacher salaries and for improvement of school facilities.

Bernal also mentioned that the increased tuition fees in private schools might cause students to transfer to SUCs.

As of now, the private schools applying for increase still have to send the requirements to CHED’s Central office. The official announcement of HEI's in Region-7 with increased tuition fees is expected to come out middle of May.

"Ire-review pa iyan kasi may mga technicalities iyan in terms of document submission, mga datelines even the percentage of increase kailangan. It would be unfair of the school kapag nagsabi na kami na nag-increase ka ng ganyan," Bernal said.

On the guidelines for free tuition in SUCs, Bernal said: "I have not yet received the guidelines and most likely it should be coursed directly to the SUCs, not through CHED kasi we are stranded with a lot of scholarship. Most likely ang guidelines niyan baka iyong pera direkta SUCs, and magmo-monitor CHED." — Larry V. Villarin (FREEMAN)