“Whether a student comes from a private or a public institution, it does not really matter because we all face the same crises as a result of the continuing insensitivity of the Aquino government,” Gultia said.
By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Thirty-one colleges and universities in the Davao region have filed their requests to increase tuition and other fees next school year.
Nineteen of these schools are located here namely: the Assumption College of Davao, Ateneo de Davao University, Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines, AMA Computer College, Brokenshire College, Davao Doctors’ College, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, Davao Medical School Foundation, Holy Cross College of Sasa, Jose Maria College, John Paul II College, Mindanao Kokusai Daigako, Mindanao Medical Foundation College, Philippine Women’s College, San Pedro College, St. Peter’s College of Toril, STI College of Davao, Tecarro College Foundation and the University of the Immaculate Concepcion.
The Commission on Higher Education (Ched), in a press release said that “the total number of Higher Education Institutions increasing the tuition and/or other fees might change depending on the result of the consultations and the compliance reports to be submitted on or before April 1, 2013.”
The tuition fee increases, expectedly, were not welcomed by students.
Arnielyn Nudalo, 19, a freshman student in one of Mindanao’s biggest universities said she was forced to stop for one year because her family can no longer keep up with the expenses.
“Last semester, I had a hard time paying for final exams. How much more if there is an increase next year?” she told davaotoday.com.
For his part, Clint Juaban, spokesperson of youth group Anakbayan in the University of Mindanao said, “It clearly shows that Ched remains inutile in putting an end to tuition and other school fees increase.”
“(President Benigno) Aquino is not interested to raise the budget for education,” said Christine Gultia, spokesperson of Kabataan Partylist in the University of Southeastern Philippines saying that with the yearly education budget PHP 292.7 Billion, “if we are to distribute the budget to almost 500 state universities and colleges, this will never be enough.”
“Whether a student comes from a private or a public institution, it does not really matter because we all face the same crises as a result of the continuing insensitivity of the Aquino government,” Gultia said.
On the other hand, “students have been paying for fees they actually do not benefit from,” said Juaban.
In Juaban’s estimate, there are about 16,000 students in UM who pay PHP 100 as “internet fee” which totals to a collection of PHP 1.6 Million. He said that a regular first year student would pay PHP 8, 000 for tuition and PHP 7,000 miscellaneous fees or about PHP 15,000 per student per semester.
Basing on Juaban’s estimate, the school would have a revenue of PHP 285 million pesos per semester or PHP 570 million per year.
“Despite the big collection, we cannot use the internet freely. There is also a report that a computer laboratory is collecting 20 pesos per hour for those who want to access the internet. Isn’t that a duplication of collection?” he said.
For Nudalo, “I have been paying 295 pesos for the Medical and Dental fee. I was not been able to use it. I haven’t even asked for even one paracetamol.” (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
