CHEd OKs tuition hike in 222 schools

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has approved tuition fee hikes in at least 222 private colleges and universities across the country.

CHEd said the number of schools increasing their fees this year could rise to 256 once its regional office in Metro Manila completes the processing of all applications for tuition hikes.

Tuition increases so far average P41.52 per unit. But Metro Manila students will bear the steepest increases, with some 33 schools increasing fees by an average of P79.90 per unit.

The approvals so far indicate an increase  of P1,438.20 for a student taking 18 units per semester at a school in Metro Manila.

Increases in “miscellaneous fees” are not yet specified. Current regulations allow schools leeway in enforcing miscellaneous fee hikes.

A total 301 private schools sought permission to increase tuition. Their applications were evaluated based on schools’ compliance to CHEd requirements, officials said.

The number of approved applications as of this month represents about 10 percent of the total 2,247 higher education institutions in the country.