6 universities to hike tuition, other fees
Credit to Author: Franz Lewin Embudo| Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:43:53 +0000
SIX universities are set to increase their tuition and other fees this year, according to the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP).
These schools are the University of Santo Tomas (UST), De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, St. Louis University, Far Eastern University (FEU), De La Salle University (DLSU)-Manila and University of San Carlos (USC).
The group said UST would hike its tuition and other school fees by 4 percent to 6 percent.
St. Louis University will impose a 7-percent hike in tuition and other fees for freshmen enrolees.
Meanwhile, FEU, DLSU-Manila and USC will implement a 3-percent to 7-percent increase in tuition and other fees.
“The Duterte administration did not reverse, but even worsened, the perpetual increase in school fees shouldered by families,” NUSP National President Raoul Manuel said.
Other universities that also have plans to adjust their tuition are the Ateneo De Manila University, University of the East, DLSU-Dasmariñas, Lyceum of the Philippines, Adamson University, Central Philippine University, University of Cordillera, Mapua University, Holy Angels University and National Teachers’ College.
The NUSP said the national average tuition rate per unit of P887.43 is twice than a decade ago.
Data from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) showed that 1,721 or 88 percent of the 1,963 universities and colleges in the country are private.
The NUSP noted that the tuition hikes approved by the CHEd were “significantly higher” than the inflation rates per year.
“As we call for the increase in the salaries of school personnel and the improvement of facilities, we also believe that the trade-off for it should not burden the students, especially since private schools most likely have super-profits where they could get the money from,” Manuel said.
CHEd Chairman Prospero de Vera 3rd, however, said the NUSP’s data were not accurate because the period for the application for tuition increases is ongoing.