MANILA, Philippines — Private universities and colleges have only one week left, or until July 1, to submit their proposed tuition hikes to the Commission of Higher Education (ChED) for approval.
ChEd chairperson Prospero de Vera on Wednesday said the deadline will give ample time for the agency’s regional offices to review the proposals since the earliest opening of schools is eyed in August.
In their proposals, universities and colleges have to explain the basis for the tuition increases. So far, ChEd has not approved any tuition hike. De Vera did not say how many schools have applied for tuition hikes.
“Kung magtataas kayo, mag-konsulta kayo sa mga estudyante at mga magulang at faculty at ipaliwanag nyo yung basehan for tuition increase,” he said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.
(If you will increase tuition, you should consult students, parents, and the faculty and explain the basis for tuition increase.)
De Vera said the agency returned all proposals for tuition hikes last May so that schools can recalibrate them, especially with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Classes have been suspended for areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), to avoid local transmission of the disease.
ChEd previously asked colleges and universities to defer the collection of fees during the Luzon quarantine, but the statement came as an appeal and not a direct order.
De Vera earlier explained that stopping possible tuition increases during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic is not within the mandate ChEd.