Schools hiking tuition asked to strike 'acceptable' compromise

MANILA, Philippines - The government on Thursday appealed to private colleges and universities to strike an acceptable compromise with stakeholders in hiking fees for the incoming school year.

"We appeal to them and we hope that the increases that they have applied for have been reached in proper consultation with the parents, with the students, with the teachers, and that these increases must be, if necessary, reasonable,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing.

Valte said she hopes the educational institutions comply with the rules on consulting stakeholders before applying for a tuition hike.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said the tuition increase notices filed by at least 451 private colleges and universities are not final and will be subjected to review by the commission en banc when it convenes on May 27.

CHED added that it plans to expand its scholarship programs to help poor students finish their college education.

The Student’s Grants in Aid program for Poverty Alleviation will be aligned with the Aquino administration’s Conditional Cash Transfer Program being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the government said.