MANILA, Philippines—As the global economic crisis worsens, 15 percent of the country’s more than 1,700 tertiary institutions are seeking an average nine percent increase in tuition rates for the incoming school year, according to a Commission on Higher Education official.

As of Thursday, 258 institutions of higher education, including four state universities and colleges, have notified the commission that they intend to increase their fees in the 2009-2010 school year.

“This is nationwide and in all regions of the country but this is just 15 percent of all [higher institutions]. The remaining 85 percent, or 1,444 schools, said in our consultations that they do not intend to increase their fees,” the official said.

However, some of the schools that signified their intention to increase fees may reconsider because of the government’s appeal for a tuition moratorium because of the economic crisis, the official said.

“They also might not have all the requirements,” he added.

Those schools wishing to increase their fees have until next week to consult their stakeholders and then inform the CHEd.

The official said that the increase in the rates could go as high as 15 percent but many schools are asking for an increase of “only two to three percent.”