Sen. Marcos seeks answers from DepEd, CHED before classes resume
Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Marcos is seeking a legislative inquiry on the "questionable" fees that private schools, colleges, and universities are reportedly collecting from students despite the shift to online and distance learning.
Marcos on Friday cited reports that some universities in Metro Manila were still charging various miscellaneous fees for the use of classroom-based internet, electricity, laboratories, libraries, and medical and dental clinics.
"The inclusion of many miscellaneous fees for school facilities and services that would no longer be used is unnecessary and unconscionable. A Senate investigation is in order," Marcos said in her statement.
She filed last July 29 Senate Resolution No. 480, which calls on the appropriate Senate committees to conduct the probe.
The resolution cited a letter sent by the University of the East (UE) Student Council to the CHED about the tuition fees ranging from P50,000 to P60,000 and are "closely resembling" the expenses in their regular face-to-face learning.
The measure also mentioned an social media post of a parent who questioned the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for allegedly imposing fees for facilities and services that will not be used by students during the online learning.
Marcos said that learning through online classes and modular lessons should be less costly since the government has yet to allow face-to-face classes, and that most students who are below 21 years old are directed to remain indoors amid the community quarantine.
"Schools should not be playing blind and profiting on what they would no longer provide. Parents and students should definitely be paying less,” she said.
Marcos also called on the Department of Education and the CHED to immediately look into the complaints before classes resume in August.