DAVAO CITY – Militant youth group scored the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Aquino administration for its approval and implementation of tuition and other school fee increases for the incoming school year despite protests from students, parents, and educators.
Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan, calls the decision as “heartless for the parents and students.”
“Walang puso ang gubyernong ito. Gusto yata nila marami pang magpatiwakal, marami pang matulak sa kawalang pag-asa at kawalang kinabukasan. Pinapayagan nilang nakawan pa lalo ang mga mag-aaral at magulang,” said Crisostomo.
Crisostomo asks why CHED has not released the list of schools implementing tuition hikes.
“Why has CHED not released the list of schools implementing tuition hikes? Why is it silent on drop-out rates, increasing profits of big schools and the complaints filed by students?” he said.
Student groups also questioned CHED’s approval of “other school fee” increases.
“What are these fees outside of tuition? These fees have been subject of many complaints and are known to be exorbitant, unjust, redundant and illegal,” Crisostomo said.
Crisostomo said tuition hikes will result to an increase in drop-out rates and will affect the spending capacity of poor families. He said half of school-aged youths are out of school and only 20 out of 100 students entering Grade 1 graduate college.
Crisostomo also said nationwide walkout protests are being set to call on the Aquino government to stop tuition hikes.
