Posted by Cocopea Ph on Friday, June 26, 2020
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 27) — Many private basic education institutions have opted to cut fees or have withdrawn their applications for tuition increases this incoming school year, according to the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations.
In a statement issued Friday, COCOPEA also said that some private schools have decided to “defer their scheduled increases” for school year 2020 to 2021 even before the enrolment period started on June 1.
COCOPEA was responding to the Department of Education’s appeal last Thursday for a deferment of increases in tuition and other charges.
But the group defended the miscellaneous charges imposed by some schools, which parents said appear inconsistent with distant learning.
It said these “other fees” such as athletic fees, counseling fees, medical and dental services, are required by the DepEd for all private schools. Unless the department revises, recalls or repeals its regulations, the schools said they are “not at liberty to remove these.”
COCOPEA added these facilities and services have to be kept in anticipation of a return to face-to-face learning.
The organization has been calling for government support as schools prepare for a widespread shift to online and blended learning modes.
This includes providing a policy environment that it said should maintain “appropriate and reasonable” regulation.
