1,299 private schools get DepEd nod to hike tuition

MANILA, Philippines - The number of private elementary and secondary schools increasing their tuition this coming school year rose to 1,299 yesterday, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported.

DepEd said the figure could still go up before classes open in June as four more regions have yet to submit their reports.

The agency approved the petitions of 1,299 out of 1,477 schools that applied for tuition hike for school year 2014-2015. The increase ranges between 1.35 percent and 35 percent.

The Western Visayas region has the most number of schools increasing their fees at 311, including some that will implement a 35-percent hike.

There are 12,875 private elementary and secondary schools in the country. DepEd allowed 1,144 private schools to increase their fees last year.

DepEd assistant secretary Tonisito Umali said earlier the agency expects fewer private elementary and secondary schools to raise tuition this school year than last year.

Umali said the additional fees would be used to raise teachers’ salaries and improve school facilities.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education said 353 tertiary schools in the country have filed petitions to increase their tuition and other fees. The CHED has yet to announce whether these petitions were approved or not.

Last year, CHED allowed 354 out of 1,683 private higher education institutions to raise their tuition and other fees.