DepEd allows 654 schools to hike tuition

After approving increase, it now appeals to schools to defer implementation

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday confirmed that 654 out of the 901 private elementary and secondary schools nationwide that applied for adjustment were allowed to implement increases in tuition and other fees this coming school year.

According to DepEd, 556 private schools applied for tuition hike before the enforcement of the community quarantine, while 345 private schools applied during the lockdown.

But after approving the increase in tuition and other fees, DepEd appealed to private schools in basic education nationwide to “defer increases” in tuition and other miscellaneous fees or charges for the coming school year amid the COVID-19 situation in the country.

In an advisory, DepEd said private schools should reconsider implementing tuition hike this School Year (SY) 2020-2021 in “view of the financial constraints that parents and learners are expected to face due to the COVID-19 pandemic

situation.”

DepEd said it is “practicable” for private schools to defer increases on tuition and other school fees when they start classes this coming school year. It added that it shall “endeavor to make any application of private schools of tuition increases transparent and reasonable, in accordance with the applicable laws and rules and regulations.”

While DepEd recognizes the need to ensure the sustainability of private educational institutions so that they may continue to be viable partners in the delivery of quality basic education services in the country, the agency stressed this “objective must be balanced with the accessibility of these services to learners, particularly those whose families are experiencing financial difficulties brought by the imposition of necessary COVID19 management measures.”

Likewise, DepEd also calls on private schools to ensure “transparency in the structure of tuition fees and miscellaneous charges for this school year.” DepEd said that there have also been concerns over certain school charges that are not consistent with distance learning. “We understand that there are new expenses that come with distance learning, but there are also diminished expenses in light of the major change in learning delivery modality,” it added.

In its appeal, DepEd cited Section 42 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 or the “Education Act of 1982” which provides, “Each private school shall determine its rate of tuition and other school fees or charges… subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports” (now DepEd, TESDA, and CHED).

DepEd noted that the guidelines on tuition and miscellaneous charge increases may be found in DepEd Order No. 88, s. 2010 known as the 2010 Revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in Basic Education. “Private schools shall be guided by the provisions of the said DepEd Order on the application for increase, required consultation, and proper allocation of tuition fees,” DepEd added.

In a document obtained by the Manila Bulletin from the Undersecretary Jesus Mateo, DepEd data as of May 14 showed that a “total of 901 private schools applied for increase in tuition and other fees but only 654 or 73.00 percent of which has been approved.”

“Based on the submission of 13 regions, the average tuition fee increase applied by the schools is 13%,” DepEd said.

Region III (79), Region IV-A or Calabarzon (56), and Region V (55) registered the highest number of applications.

DepEd data also showed that “only 236 out of the total 5,472 secondary private school institutions have applied for tuition and other fee increase for School Year (SY) 2020-2021.”

DepEd assured that schools that have been which were approved to raise tuition have undergone steps to ensure that the increase is reasonable and in accordance with the existing guidelines.

Private schools were also asked to submit necessary documents to prove consultation between the stakeholders occurred.

Enrollment turnout remains low

As DepEd issues its appeal, the enrollment turnout in private schools – after more than three weeks of registration period – remains relatively low.

Latest national enrollment data from DepEd as of June 25 showed that there are 558,705 learners who are currently enrolled in private schools nationwide. Of this number, 21,106 learners registered in Kindergarten; 121, 322 in Elementary; 226, 856 in Junior High School (JHS); 188, 372 in Senior High School (SHS); and 1, 049 learners with disabilities.

The highest number of enrollees in private schools is recorded in Region IV-A with 94,634 learners followed by Region III with 75,886; and the National Capital Region (NCR) with 53,092.