CHED reviewing tuition hikes

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will scrutinize all proposals for tuition fee increase from colleges and universities to protect public interest. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday CHED will make sure that colleges and universities will comply with the guidelines set by the Commission before imposing higher tuition fees, and that the proposed increase would be carefully assessed. Valte said it would be up to CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan to determine the rate of tuition fee increase that could be allowed. CHED media officer Abi Lasaca earlier said that the agency is working with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies "to come up with a formula on the reasonable rate of tuition fee increase each year and per province or region.” According to the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), around 400 universities and colleges across the country plan to increase tuition and other school fees in the next school year. The NUSP said many schools have signified their intention to raise tuition by up to 13 percent and other school fees by 20 percent. CHED is set to release the list of colleges and universities seeking to raise their tuition fees by April and May.//