24 schools in Western Visayas hike tuition

By Erly C. Garcia

Fewer schools in Western Visayas have increased their tuition fees this year as compared to last year.

Freddie Maningo, Tuition Coordinator of Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) said only 24 schools are raising their tuition this school opening as compared to last year's 36.

Maningo said the average increase is 11.84%.

The average tuition per unit now is recorded at P345.11.

Aklan Polytechnic Institute registered the highest tuition increase at 34% while the lowest is that of the Binalbagan Catholic College at 3.81%.

Other schools that increased their tuition are: Colegio De San Jose (10%), De Paul College (10%), Iloilo Doctors College (4%), Fellowship Baptist College-Kabankalan (10%), Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (12%), Filamer Christian College (5%), JBLCF-Arevalo REG (10%) NIS (10%), La Salle-Roxas (12%), La Consolacion College-Bacolod (11%), Mt. Carmel College (10%), St. Anne College (10%), SAC-Antique (10%), St. Therese-MTC La Paz (10%), St. Therese-MTC La Fiesta (10%), Colegio Sta. Rita (10%), JBLCF-Molo (12%), St. Therese-MTC Tigbauan (10%), USLS-Bacolod (12%), UNO-R Bacolod (14.57%), Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod (9%), West Negros College (13%), and Western Institute of Technology (5.79%).

Interestingly, St. Anne College in Molo, Iloilo City has the lowest tuition rate at P211 per unit.

Maningo said the above named schools were able to submit documents required by CHED on or before prescribed deadline of April 1 this year.

CHED Memorandum Order No. 13 series of 1998 provides for the guidelines on the procedure to be followed by higher education institutions (HEIs) intending to increase their tuition fees.

The memorandum order requires HEIs intending to increase their tuition fees to conduct consultation with their student councils/governments, and their faculty, alumni and/or non-teaching personnel associations.

The CHED guideline further requires that 70 per cent of the proceeds to be derived from the tuition increase shall be used for the payment of increase in salaries, wages, allowances and other benefits of its teaching and non-teaching personnel and other staff except those who are principal stockholders of the HEI.

Maningo said HEIs that fail to comply with the requisites provided by the CHED memorandum order could not implement tuition increase.