Drop in college enrollees expected in next semester

CEBU - Heads of universities here in Cebu are expecting a decrease in the number of enrollees for the coming semester because of the effects of the global financial crisis.

During the 888 News Forum yesterday, chairpersons of four universities here discussed the effects of the financial instability in their respective schools and on how they are preparing for it.

Augusto Go, president of the University of Cebu, that has more than 43,000 students this semester, said that the financial crisis is “not just bad, but very very bad.”

Because of this, UC is one of the schools that announced recently of a decrease in tuition so that it will be able to help students and minimize the increase in dropouts.

Go said that they will be giving a discount of P2 per unit. “This may be small but I know this could help,” Go added. He also advised that marine engineering and nautical sciences are the best courses to take up now.

Scholarships and financial assistance are also continually being granted to deserving students.

As for Dr. Alicia Cabatingan, president of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, and Andrew Aznar of Southwestern University, they said they have not received reports yet of students dropping out but still they are preparing for the eventuality.

Cabatingan said that in USPF, they will be implementing a “no-tuition-fee-increase policy” to help ease the burden of the parents.

Fr. Dionisio Miranda, the new president of the University of San Carlos, said that even before the recession, they have seen a decline in the entry of students enrolling.

As of now, they are in the process of discussing with members of the school administration on how to resolve this problem. – AJ de la Torre/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)