CHED welcomes SC ruling on tuition hikes

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) welcomed yesterday the Supreme Court (SC)’s decision junking a petition against tuition increase filed by youth groups.

“The ruling strengthens the commission’s commitment to addressing the tuition hike

issue, (like) the need to balance the public interest in keeping higher education accessible and affordable, while allowing higher education institutions (HEIs) reasonable room to remain financially viable... so they can continue to provide greater access to quality education,” CHED chair Patricia Licuanan said in a statement.

Licuanan also said that with this definitive ruling, all stakeholders in higher education should now concentrate on pursuing their planned academic and other extracurricular activities for school year 2013-2014.

“This is to ensure that school officials carry out their duties and functions, faculty members conduct their classes diligently and as scheduled, and students focus on the learning process that promises to enhance their personal competencies and capacity to contribute meaningfully to society,” she added.

The high court on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Kabataan party-list and other groups against tuition hikes in 354 HEIs this school year.

Licuanan said the new policy in granting increases in tuition and other fees was crafted by CHED and stakeholders, including Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino.

She also ordered private schools to adhere to the commission’s latest policy on increases in tuition and other fees contained in CHED Memorandum Order No. 3, series of 2012, which requires the conduct of consultations with students and other recognized student organizations.

Article VI of the memorandum also states that within 30 days after the consultation period, students can file complaints and grievances for proposed fee increases that did not undergo proper consultation.

Licuanan said the 354 schools that applied for increased tuition and other school fees complied with the CHED policy requiring the conduct of consultations as early as February.

But the applications for tuition hike of 97 schools that did not comply with the policy were not endorsed by the CHED regional offices, which were tasked to screen and process the applications.