DepEd: Private schools need to justify tuition increase before approval
Published May 9, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
As long as they have fulfilled and submitted as the necessary requirements, the Department of Education (DepEd) noted that private schools may still implement tuition and other fee increases for the coming school year upon approval of its regional offices.
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
“The process will not be different from the existing process where schools have to apply for tuition fee increase,” DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan explained in an earlier virtual press briefing.
Nepomuceno noted that private schools will have to submit their applications to the DepEd regional offices, addressed to the regional directors.
When it comes to tuition fee hike and approval, he explained that the DepEd Central Office “provides the policy direction but the implementation will be at the regional levels.”
“They have to justify the increase including its allocation,” he added.
In a separate television interview, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio maintained that education in public schools in free.
“For private schools, as has been the practice, we their right to determine their respective tuition rates,” he added.
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, San Antonio noted that most private schools have been responsive to the earlier appeal of DepEd to “extend leniency” when it comes to the collection of tuition and other school fees.
The private schools, San Antonio noted, are also aware that if they if implement higher tuition fees, they might have fewer enrollees.
“This is why they have to make sure that if they would increase tuition, it should be reasonable and have gone through consultation with the parents of their students,” he explained.
Based on the existing policy on tuition hike, DepEd requires private schools that intend to apply for tuition increase to submit necessary documentation that proves consultation between the stakeholders occurred.
Per DepEd, a tuition increase is only possible “if there is a consultation” made with the parents and students and if they have agreed on the percentage of the tuition hike. If approved, private schools must ensure that 70 percent of the tuition increase should go to teachers’ salaries, 20 percent for the improvement of facilities, and 10 percent for profit and others.
DepEd aligned with IATF
Meanwhile, Malaluan explained that while the country deals with the public health emergency, “there are certain decisions now that even if in the past we give relative autonomy to the private schools, these should be context with that of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases).”
Malaluan noted even the DepEd itself has to “make sure that we are aligned” with the IATF.
“For example, we cannot just unilaterally say that we will open our classrooms and allow people to come in if there's an ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), that's not possible,” he said.
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
“The process will not be different from the existing process where schools have to apply for tuition fee increase,” DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan explained in an earlier virtual press briefing.
Nepomuceno noted that private schools will have to submit their applications to the DepEd regional offices, addressed to the regional directors.
When it comes to tuition fee hike and approval, he explained that the DepEd Central Office “provides the policy direction but the implementation will be at the regional levels.”
“They have to justify the increase including its allocation,” he added.
In a separate television interview, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio maintained that education in public schools in free.
“For private schools, as has been the practice, we their right to determine their respective tuition rates,” he added.
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, San Antonio noted that most private schools have been responsive to the earlier appeal of DepEd to “extend leniency” when it comes to the collection of tuition and other school fees.
The private schools, San Antonio noted, are also aware that if they if implement higher tuition fees, they might have fewer enrollees.
“This is why they have to make sure that if they would increase tuition, it should be reasonable and have gone through consultation with the parents of their students,” he explained.
Based on the existing policy on tuition hike, DepEd requires private schools that intend to apply for tuition increase to submit necessary documentation that proves consultation between the stakeholders occurred.
Per DepEd, a tuition increase is only possible “if there is a consultation” made with the parents and students and if they have agreed on the percentage of the tuition hike. If approved, private schools must ensure that 70 percent of the tuition increase should go to teachers’ salaries, 20 percent for the improvement of facilities, and 10 percent for profit and others.
DepEd aligned with IATF
Meanwhile, Malaluan explained that while the country deals with the public health emergency, “there are certain decisions now that even if in the past we give relative autonomy to the private schools, these should be context with that of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases).”
Malaluan noted even the DepEd itself has to “make sure that we are aligned” with the IATF.
“For example, we cannot just unilaterally say that we will open our classrooms and allow people to come in if there's an ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), that's not possible,” he said.