Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) — While the free tertiary education bill is one step closer to the President’s signature, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved school fees hike of 268 private higher educational institutions (HEIs).
This accounts for 16 percent of the 1,652 private HEIs all over the country.
The hike will take effect this academic year, 2017-2018.
CHED’s approval of the tuition and other school fees increase amounts to 6.96 percent increase in tuition or P86.68 per unit, and 6.9% increase in other school fees, amounting to around P243 increase.
The Commission said its approach to tuition is “holistic,” citing salary of teachers and inflation, among others, as reasons for the hike.
“(T)here is a need to balance access issues with sustainability of educational institutions. For its part, CHED ensures that HEIs meet the guidelines provided by law, especially the requirement of consultation, the proper allocation of tuition fees, and strict adherence with the processes that seek to make tuition and other school fee increases transparent, reasonable and affordable,” the Commission’s statement read.
CHED and the Budget department allocated around P7.8 billion for the free tuition of state universities and colleges under the 2017 budget.
Senator Bam Aquino, the principal sponsor of the bill, which passed the bicameral committee on Monday, said in a statement that it will be “a major reform in the country’s education system.”
“If approved, it will institutionalize free tuition and other fees in SUCs and LUCs all over the country, giving underprivileged students a chance to earn a college degree,” Aquino’s statement read.
The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act aims to provide free education in state and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs).
It will be transmitted to Malacanang for the President’s approval once it gets ratified by both Houses.
The proposed act will also streamline and strengthen all Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP), to make it available to students who want to pursue higher education in private institutions.
The measure will also subsidize other expenses of other students.
