SAGAY CITY - There will be no tuition fee increases in all state universities and colleges in the Philippines but private institutions may raise fees up to 6 percent, based on the inflation rate of the country, Commission on Higher Education commissioner Nona Ricafort said yesterday.

Ricafort, who was the keynote speaker at the 14th graduation rites of Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology here, said when private schools raise their school fees, CHED regulates their income.

She said the increase does not go to the schools to keep but is used to augment what is needed for the services of the institutions.

“For CHED, the increase of rates in private schools is very reasonable because that is the maximum that we can give,” Ricafort said.

Ricafort said they receive applications for tuition fee increases every year, which they do not deny.

“We always grant applications for tuition fee increases because we cannot stop them as it is against the law and academic freedom. But we pressure them not to increase more than the inflation rate this year which is between 5 to 6 percent,” Ricafort said.

FIELD TRIPS

Ricafort also said that the CHED has ruled that outside trips are allowed only if they are related to studies, like job trainings or seminar workshops of the course, but it must be done in the province nearest to the school’s location.

“If parents find field trips unreasonable, they can appeal to the school. If it is a state university, we control it, and if it is a private school, there is such a thing as academic freedom,” she said.

In February 21, a group of 31 tourism students and two teachers from Marinduque State College had an accident in Tuba, Benguet when their tour bus collided with a container truck and another passenger bus. Seven students and a teacher were killed.*LTG

back to top