Cordillera schools to hike fees

3 MIN READ

By ALMA B. SINUMLAG
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Out of 45 colleges and universities in the region, eight had submitted their proposed tuition and other fees increases (TOFI) and schedule of consultation to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) here while youth groups slammed the commission for justifying the pending TOFI.

Dr Freddie Bernal of CHED said in an interview that the proposed increases in tuition will be subjected to consultations that will involve stake holders like student leaders, faculty, school administration and alumni. They according to him will decide whether or not the proposed increase will be imposed next school year. He added that those schools that will be increasing tuition will be the only ones conducting a consultation while those that are increasing other fees will not be compelled to do so.

Easter College wanted to increase tuition by 10% and had their consultation on February 18 at Eugene Pucay Sr. Gym. STI College-Baguio proposed an increase of 5% in other fees.

University of the Cordilleras (UC) also submitted their proposed increase however, there was no indicated percentage. The said school will be having their consultation on February 28 10AM at their Auditorium.

Moreover, Pines City Colleges proposed 10% increase in the tuition and will be having consultation on February 28, 2PM at the PT-AVR, PT Building. Cordillera A+ Computer Technology College in Kalinga has no indicated percentage as to their proposed increase and the consultation will be on February 28.

Saint Louis University (SLU) will be imposing a 5% increase in other fees to the incoming students. Also, Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) will be increasing tuition at 6.67% effective only to the incoming students therefore consultation is not required.

Lastly, Baguio Central University (BCU) like two other schools did not indicate their proposed percentage of increase and will be having the consultation on February 21, 10:30AM at their conference hall.

Bernal said the proposed increases are justifiable considering the increases in basic commodities recently. He explained that salaries of teachers who are also sending children to school will increase. He further explained that 70% of schools’ earnings goes to the salaries of employees, 20% to the maintenance and the 10% will be the return of investment (ROI). “A school must also earn,” he said.

CHED slammed for justifying TOFI

On the other hand, youth groups slammed CHED for justifying the above mentioned increases. Mark Leander, the spokes person of the National Union of students of the Philippines (NUSP) Baguio-Benguet said they are alarmed that CHED is convincing the student leaders prior to consultations. He claimed that actions of the said commission is an outright disrespect and violation to the constitutional right of every Filipino youth to quality and free education.

“We feel violated and offended by their actions,” he said.

Cielo Marie Bayson of College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) belied the statement of Bernal regarding the alloted fund for teachers’ salary increase and for maintenance of school facilities. “Not once did these private college and universities prove that they allot the said necessary funds,” she said. CHED’s justification of the increase she added gives private institutions the guts to make our parents milking cows for millions every year.

Leander called for the administrators to limit their greed. He cited UC as one of Baguio’s classic example of a school that is raising millions for net income. In the past two years he said, the institution has a net income not lower than 90 million pesos. It has also raised TOFI on an average of 10% every year.

Teresa Panem of Kabataan Partylist in an interview challenged CHED to review its mandate. “There job is to protect the interests of the students not a spokes person of administrators,” she exclaimed adding that consultations are yet to be conducted but the commission is saying that the inceases are justified.

Bayson challenged the commission to be a pro-poor and pro-student institution that protects the rights of students and the poor majority in the region. She also challenged president Noynoy Aquino to act regarding the issue. “It seems that Pnoy does not have the political will to address the problems left by the previous administration,” she observed.

If this continues, Leander said they will revive the call to abolish the said commission because of its incapacity of regulating tuition hikes. # nordis.net