Catholic schools won't raise tuition

CEBU, Philippines - In response to the call of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal for Catholic educational institutions here to refrain from imposing tuition hikes, the Archdiocesan superintendent of schools announced of a no-increase-in-tuition policy for academic year 2009-2010. 

In an official statement dated March 3, Rev. Fr. Eduardo Ventic, superintendent of Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said that instead of increasing matriculation fees, the schools concerned will “adopt alternative schemes to source funds for their needed operational expenses.”

Fr. Ventic, who is also an administrator of St. Joseph’s Academy in Mandaue City, cited availing of programs such as the government-sponsored Fund for Assistance to Private Education, Education Services Contracting, and Educational Voucher System.

Other measures will be implemented like encouraging the Parents-Teachers Community Association to come up with scholarships and an increased campaign for more enrolment, to allow the schools to operate their own canteens, and cut unnecessary expenditures, he added.

As early as January, when the effects of the global economic meltdown started to hit home, some schools have already announced they would not be increasing tuition for the next schoolyear.

Aside from the University of San Carlos and University of San Jose-Recoletos that earlier announced of a tuition freeze, the Archdiocese has 10 colleges and around 60 high schools and grade schools that are either run by religious congregations or by administrators representing the Cebu Archdiocese. – Johanna T. Natavio/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)