STUDENT leaders in the Davao area slammed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for approving petitions to increase tuition rates and school fees to 32 colleges and universities in Region 11.
In a joint statement issued yesterday, the Kabataan Partylist Mindanao represented by its Vice President Paul Dotollo, National Union of Students in the Philippines Davao Coordinator Romen Wabina and the League of Filipino Students-Davao City Chapter Spokesperson Omar Mañigo said that the approved increases by CHED lack consultation of school administrators in Davao City to the students and parents which makes the CHED memorandum “toothless.”
They added that according to the annual financial reports submitted by tertiary schools to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), some of the country’s top private higher education (HEIs) already show a steady increase in their profitability.
They also said that the increment is “a complete turnaround of President Duterte’s statements last year of free education for college students, betraying the hopes of students and parents who are burdened with paying five-digit tuition fees for six months.”
“Commercialization of education is depriving millions of students of their right to education, and it affects the future of our country with students not able to attain higher education. We challenge the Duterte administration to change this system where good education comes with a price-tag.”
On May 30, CHED approved an average increase in tuition of 4.65 per cent or P20.08 per unit and 4.81 per cent or P22.14 per unit for other school fees in Region 11.
Among the colleges and universities that have been approved to increase were Ateneo de Davao University, Davao Doctors College, Davao Medical School Foundation College, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, Holy Child College of Davao, Holy Cross Academy of Sasa, Holy Cross College of Calinan, Holy Cross of Davao College, Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation, Jose Maria College, Philippine College of Technology, Philippines Women’s College of Davao, Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary, Saint Peter’s College of Toril, San Pedro College, STI College of Davao, University of Mindanao and University of Immaculate Concepcion.
Other schools outside Davao city also include Arriesgado College Foundation, Assumption College of Nabunturan, Cor Jesu College, General Baptist Bible College, Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship Inc., North Davao Colleges-Panabo, Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur, Saint Mary’s College of Tagum, Serapion C. Basalo Memorial Foundation College, St. Mary’s College Baganga, St. Thomas More School of Law and Business, Tagum Doctors College, Tecarro College Foundation, and Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology.
To protest against the tuition and school fees hike, the student leaders will be having a State of the Youth Address on the second week of July.
