In Cebu Province Tuition hiked in 40 schools

CEBU, Philippines - As classes officially start next week, at least 40 private elementary and secondary schools in Cebu province have increased tuition fees, according to the Department of Education-7.

Some of these schools implemented tuition hikes as early as March, said Marcial Degamo, chief of DepEd-7 quality assurance and accountability division.

“Since students are considered officially enrolled when classes open next week, the tuition fee hikes were already implemented in some schools during enrollment earlier this month,” Degamo said.

In Central Visayas, a total 129 private elementary and high schools have raised their tuition fees and Degamo said the number is expected to increase.

“The increases were not really big, since schools feared that parents might be forced to transfer to public schools,” he pointed out.

Aside from Cebu, Degamo said schools that implemented tuition hikes in the region this year were also based in Bohol and Negros Oriental.

He said schools have the freedom to determine any tuition increase.

Tuition hike applications, Degamo explained, are submitted to school divisions and to the regional office for approval.

“Some schools increased by P10,000 per year, while some increased by up to P6,000. In well-known schools situated in highly urbanized areas, the hike was up to P20,000,” he said.

Applications for tuition hikes already ended on May 15, but there are still pending approvals since some schools are still complying with all the requirements, Degamo said.

Nationwide, at least 903 private elementary and high schools have raised their tuition this year.

Metro Manila has the highest number of schools raising tuition with 260 out of 311 schools followed by Region-3 with 227 out of 289 schools.

In Western Visayas, all 110 schools that applied for increase were given the green light by the DepEd.

DepEd officials, however, did not disclose the names of the schools. — /LPM (FREEMAN)