116 private elementary, high schools raise tuition

MANILA, Philippines – Up to 166 of the 3,751 private preparatory, elementary and high schools in Metro Manila have informed the Department of Education (DepEd) of their respective tuition increases for school year 2008-09.

DepEd-National Capital Region records showed that 50 schools will increase tuition in their pre-elementary level, 54 schools in their elementary level, and 62 schools in their high school level.

DepEd noted that the average increase was two to 10 percent.

Of the 50 schools hiking fees in the pre-elementary level, 35 are imposing six to 10 percent hikes, three by 11 to 20 percent and two by 21 percent and 47.64 percent, respectively.

Of the 54 schools in the elementary level hiking fees, 42 are increasing by six to 10 percent, two schools are hiking by 11 to 20 percent and three schools are hiking by as much as 47.64 percent.

Of the 62 schools hiking fees, 54 are increasing by two to 10 percent; seven are increasing by 11 to 20 percent and one hiking by 25 percent.

Schools that will hike the fees include St. Theresa’s College, five percent; Ateneo de Manila University, six percent; Trinity University of Asia, eight percent; St. Joseph College, 10 percent; Chiang Kai Shek College, eight percent; Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 10 percent; University of the East, 10 percent; St. Jude Catholic School-Manila, 10 percent.

Among the schools that imposed the highest tuition hikes are Las Pinas College, 25 percent, Batasan Chunan Christian School, 26-29 percent; and Southeastern College, 36-47 percent.

Education Undersecretary for Operations Ramon Bacani said the tuition fee hikes imposed were few and reasonable.

“It seems the increase is very reasonable. It was very modest,” Bacani said.

He also noted that the 166 schools that imposed hikes were few considering the total number of private schools.

“They were only few. About four percent,” Bacani said.

He added that the schools exercised caution in imposing tuition hikes on concerns that an overwhelming increase could drive away enrollees to cheaper private schools or could result to a migration of students from private to public schools.

“That’s the risk that the private schools take (if they impose high tuition hikes). On their own, they’re exercising restraint in making increases,” Bacani said.