Colleges spare East Visayas from tuition hike

TACLOBAN CITY—Private colleges in Eastern Visayas are not increasing their tuition amid concerns that higher costs of education in the region could send more students to government-run schools, to the detriment of private schools.

Edward Chua, regional president of the Association of Private Colleges, said members of his group decided not to increase tuition fees this school year because the region was suffering from economic difficulties.

“We have also to understand and help the parents of our students,” said Chua, who is also president of the Asian Development Foundation College based here.

He said his school hasn’t raised tuition fees for the last five years.

The regional office of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) confirmed this.

“Please be informed that the office has not received information regarding any intention to increase tuition … from any higher education institution in the region,” CHEd said in a statement dated May 26 and on June 2.

The Inquirer sought an interview with CHEd regional director Libertad Garcia, but was only given a one-page statement announcing that no tertiary school in the region has applied for a tuition increase.

Eastern Visayas is home to at least 57 private colleges and 37 state colleges.

Chua said increasing school fees while the region’s economy is down won’t do anybody any good as it would simply be an additional burden for parents.

He added that increasing tuition fees could lead to the transfer of students from private schools to government-run colleges and universities.