BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Parents in the Caraga region expressed fear yesterday that they could no longer send their children to school due to rising tuition and other school fees.
Evangeline del Valle, president of the Caraga Federation of Parents Associations (CAFPA), expressed alarm over the possible rise in the number of out-of-school youths in the region, particularly in Butuan City, for this school year.
“Some parents during our consultative meeting said they might be forced to temporarily stop their children from going to school due to rising costs,†Del Valle said.
She said the lack of job opportunities and other means to augment income made it difficult for parents to send their children to school this year.
Earlier, Kabataan party-list group spokesman for Caraga region Rey Morgado told The STAR that a majority of private high schools, colleges and universities are set to increase tuition this year.
Evangeline Dagaang of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region 13 said only the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) and AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC) in Butuan City applied for a tuition hike.