Lawmakers oppose tuition fee hike

Lawmakers today opposed the proposal to increase tuition fees by some 300
colleges and universities in Metro Manila and some provinces saying it will be an added
burden to students coming from poor families.

Reps. Paeng Mariano (Party-list, Anakpawis) and Raymond Palatino (Partylist,

Kabataan) urged Malacañang not to allow the tuition fee increase, as this will further
weigh down the poor Filipino families who are already suffering due to the economic
crisis.

“How can poor families send their children to schools when their daily sustenance
is not even enough to buy their food?” Mariano asked.

Mariano said thousands of high school graduates will not be able to pursue courses
in college if the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allows the tuition fee hike.
“We should also expect more dropouts because many college students can no longer
afford the high tuition fees,” he said.

Mariano asked the CHED to conduct public hearings on the proposal and invite all
the stakeholders.

“CHED should invite the representatives of student organizations, parents and other
concerned sectors of society during the dialogue,” Mariano said.

Mariano said colleges and universities should be penalized if they are found to have
imposed excessive tuition fee increases this school year.

Palatino said the cost of education could be higher since the CHED doesn’t monitor
miscellaneous and other fees. “Many schools charge unnecessary and redundant fees,” he
said.

“The Commission on Higher Education should deny increase in schools with poor
performance in licensure exams,” Palatino said.

“I hope President Aquino will address declining access to education due to unabated
tuition hikes. This is his first school year as president,” Palatino added.

Palatino also urged the House of Representatives to fast track the passage of the
tuition fee rationalization bill.
 Rep. Walden Bello (Party-list, Akbayan) said allowing the increase in tuition fees is
a wrong move on the part of the government. “This will bring an added burden to parents
who are already hard up to make their children finish college,” Bello explained.

Bello said many students from poor families may stop their schooling and thus
result in the increased number of dropouts in the country.

Reports said the 282 schools eyeing a tuition fee hike represent more than 15
percent of the 1,792 college-level schools in the Philippines.

CHED said 69 private colleges and universities in Metro Manila are expected to
hike their tuition this coming school year, with St. Luke’s College of Medicine eyeing a 12
percent increase.

The University of the East-College of Medicine, Ateneo de Manila University,

Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Miriam College, Assumption College and OB
Montessori will increase their tuition by five percent while the University of Santo Tomas,
De La Salle University and UE-Manila will have increases of 3.75 percent, 3.5 percent
and 4.35 percent, respectively. (30) jy