PLACARD POWER. Students hold a picket at the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office XI to express anger on the commission's "inutility" over the annual increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees and privatization schemes. (contributed photo)
“Majority of the students were not able to join the consultation. The administration has also failed to show its financial statement despite claiming that the teachers and non-teaching staff will benefit in the proposed tuition fee hikes.” — Maureene Villamor, Ateneo de Davao University student council president
By LEIGH E. DALUGDOG
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — College students attending a public consultation by the local city council decried the inadequate consultations conducted by school administrators on the proposed tuition and miscellaneous fees hikes.
Out of the total 93 higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the Davao region, 41 have filed proposals to increase in tuition and other fees for the academic year 2012-13. Twenty of these schools come from Davao City.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (City Council) Committee on Education, headed by Councilor Leah Librado-Yap, organized a dialogue regarding the proposal of HEIs to increase their tuition and other school fees for the next school year. Librado said this is to address the students’ issues like the school administrations’ conduct on their consultation and the proposed increases in tuition and other fees.
Cesar Adegue IV, Ched Education Supervisor, said during the dialogue, “The schools can execute an increase for as long as they have accomplished a consultation within their school before February 28.”
Consultations — based on the Ched Memorandum Order 13 series of 1998 and Education Act of 1982 — must be conducted with the stakeholders, including students. Otherwise, HEIs cannot apply an increase in their tuition and miscellaneous fees.
HEI administrators said they have complied with the consultation requirements, thus, they should be granted their proposed increase.
Student leaders from the Ateneo de Davao University (Addu), University of Mindanao (UM), Assumption College of Davao (ACD), Brokenshire College of Davao (BCD) and Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) expressed their concern over the ‘inconsistent’ consultation practices that school administrators implement.
“Majority of the students were not able to join the consultation. The administration has also failed to show its financial statement, despite claiming that the teachers and non-teaching staff will benefit in the proposed tuition fee hikes,” Maureene Villamor, Samahan Student Council President-elect of the Addu, said.
Christian dela Cruz, Student Council Prime Minister of BCD, said, “We requested a copy of the official certified documents that should be submitted to the regional office but these were not given to us.”
Ched’s Adegue expressed his concern over the conduct of consultations. He said schools and universities should submit the necessary documents that are notarized. He added, ‘legitimate’ student organizations should also present necessary evidences in paper. It should also be authenticated before any complaint will be addressed by the school.
The Ched’s regional director also admitted that its Memorandum No. 13 is incapable of regulating tuition increases. He also said there’s a need to amend the Education Act of 1982.
Based on the documents from Ched, UM proposed an increase of 9.7 percent in tuition. From the current PHP 360 (USD 8.42) per unit, it will increase to PHP 395.10 (USD 9.24) per unit. The HCDC proposed an increase of 8.99 percent. Its current PHP 401 (USD 9.38) per unit will increase to PHP 438 (USD 10.24) per unit. The ACD is planning for a 50 percent increase. Its current PHP 200 (USD 4.68) per unit will increase to PHP 300 (USD 7.02) per unit. The Addu will implement a six percent increase in its tuition and energy fee.
The BCD will have an increase in various items. Its regular program will increase from PHP 371.91 (USD 8.7) to PHP 428 (USD 10.01) per unit while the evening program will increase from PHP 231.84 (USD 5.42) to PHP 372 (USD 8.7) per unit. They will also impose a 200 percent increase in their laboratory fees and 276 percent increase in the energy fees. (Leigh E. Dalugdog/davaotoday.com)
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