Tuition fee refunds up to private universities, colleges - CHED
Published Apr 16, 2020 12:00 am
By Alexandria San Juan
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Thursday that the decision for a refund on tuition fees would be up to the universities and colleges while classes in Luzon have been suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.
(MARK BALMORES/ MANILA BULLETIN)
However, CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said the refund is only applicable to private higher education institutions as tuition and miscellaneous fees of students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) are paid for by the government.
"Hindi problema ang tuition fee sa mga SUCs kasi free higher education na tayo, so ang nagbabayad ng tuition ng mga bata ay ang pamahalaan kaya walang irerefund. 'Yung demand for refund ay pwede lang mangyari sa mga private universities," De Vera explained in an interview.
(There will be no refund of tuition fees on SUCs as we already have a free higher education so the fees are paid for by the government. The demand for a refund only applies to private universities.)
While there have been demands for a refund, De Vera noted that school fees are part of a "private transaction" between the student and the school which is already outside the powers of the Commission.
"Yung pag-ayon sa tuition ng bata is a private transaction between the student and the school, and that is outside of the powers of the Commission. Kapag nasa private school at nagbayad ng tuition, ang kontrata ay makakapag-aral ang bata, may matutunan, may matatapos na subject," he said.
(The tuition fee is a private transaction between the student and the school, and that is outside the powers of the Commission. When paying tuition in a private school, the contract allows the child to study, learn, and finish a subject.)
"So, ang tanong ay ang mga iyan ba ay nacompromsie ng quarantine? So depende iyan sa eskwelahan, depende sa degree program, kasi halimbawa, may mga eskwelahan na talagang nag-online at naging successful kaya ang sasabihin ng eskwelahan ay natuloy naman ang pag-aaaral, natapos naman ang subject, so ano ang isasauli?" De Vera added.
(So, the question is, are these compromised by the quarantine? It really depends on the school, it depends on the degree program. For example, there are schools that successfully conducted online , so the school might say that the classes went on, the subjects have been completed, so there is no need for a refund.)
The Ateneo De Manila University earlier announced that it will cut the semester short following the extension of the enhanced community quarantine, and will give students a refund of P20,000 from tuition fees and 60 percent refund on their lab fees.
The entire Luzon was placed on lockdown in mid-March in a bid to contain the spread of the disease following confirmed cases of its local transmission in the country.
As health authorities repeatedly urged the public to avoid crowded places and to observe social distancing, classes at all levels in Luzon have been canceled since the lockdown started to prevent possible exposure of students to the virus.
Following this announcement, the CHED has directed tertiary institutions to "deploy available distance learning, e-learning, and other alternative modes of delivery in lieu of residential learning if they have resources to do so."
On Tuesday, CHED already permitted schools using the old academic calendar, from June to May, to finish the current semester by April 30, and also gave tertiary institutions the freedom to decide whether to implement a mass promotion of students.
(MARK BALMORES/ MANILA BULLETIN)
However, CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said the refund is only applicable to private higher education institutions as tuition and miscellaneous fees of students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) are paid for by the government.
"Hindi problema ang tuition fee sa mga SUCs kasi free higher education na tayo, so ang nagbabayad ng tuition ng mga bata ay ang pamahalaan kaya walang irerefund. 'Yung demand for refund ay pwede lang mangyari sa mga private universities," De Vera explained in an interview.
(There will be no refund of tuition fees on SUCs as we already have a free higher education so the fees are paid for by the government. The demand for a refund only applies to private universities.)
While there have been demands for a refund, De Vera noted that school fees are part of a "private transaction" between the student and the school which is already outside the powers of the Commission.
"Yung pag-ayon sa tuition ng bata is a private transaction between the student and the school, and that is outside of the powers of the Commission. Kapag nasa private school at nagbayad ng tuition, ang kontrata ay makakapag-aral ang bata, may matutunan, may matatapos na subject," he said.
(The tuition fee is a private transaction between the student and the school, and that is outside the powers of the Commission. When paying tuition in a private school, the contract allows the child to study, learn, and finish a subject.)
"So, ang tanong ay ang mga iyan ba ay nacompromsie ng quarantine? So depende iyan sa eskwelahan, depende sa degree program, kasi halimbawa, may mga eskwelahan na talagang nag-online at naging successful kaya ang sasabihin ng eskwelahan ay natuloy naman ang pag-aaaral, natapos naman ang subject, so ano ang isasauli?" De Vera added.
(So, the question is, are these compromised by the quarantine? It really depends on the school, it depends on the degree program. For example, there are schools that successfully conducted online , so the school might say that the classes went on, the subjects have been completed, so there is no need for a refund.)
The Ateneo De Manila University earlier announced that it will cut the semester short following the extension of the enhanced community quarantine, and will give students a refund of P20,000 from tuition fees and 60 percent refund on their lab fees.
The entire Luzon was placed on lockdown in mid-March in a bid to contain the spread of the disease following confirmed cases of its local transmission in the country.
As health authorities repeatedly urged the public to avoid crowded places and to observe social distancing, classes at all levels in Luzon have been canceled since the lockdown started to prevent possible exposure of students to the virus.
Following this announcement, the CHED has directed tertiary institutions to "deploy available distance learning, e-learning, and other alternative modes of delivery in lieu of residential learning if they have resources to do so."
On Tuesday, CHED already permitted schools using the old academic calendar, from June to May, to finish the current semester by April 30, and also gave tertiary institutions the freedom to decide whether to implement a mass promotion of students.