More kids move to public schools

CEBU CITY—The Department of Education (DepEd) in Central Visayas is expecting an increase in the number of students in public schools as over 100 private schools in preschool, elementary and secondary levels are implementing tuition and miscellaneous fee increases.

Dr. Marcial Degamo, chief of the DepEd Quality Assurance and Accountability Division in Central Visayas, said DepEd has confirmed the applications for tuition and miscellaneous fee increases for 129 of 700 private schools in the region.

The schools have completed the requirements for fee increases, including consultation with parents.

The increases will range from 2.22 percent to 40 percent for tuition and 0.51 percent to

56 percent for miscellaneous fees, according to the DepEd. Last year, the number of students in public schools in the region went up by 2.5 percent, Degamo said.

For the 2013-2014 school year, Degamo said DepEd is bracing for a 2.5 percent to 4 percent increase in the number of students.

Of the 129 private schools implementing increases for the coming school year, 80 schools are based in Cebu, 35 in Bohol, nine in Negros Oriental and five in Siquijor.

The highest tuition increase will be implemented by St. Andres School in Amlan, Negros Oriental, while Sto Niño Institute in Getafe, Bohol will collect the highest increase in miscellaneous fee at 56 percent.

The Colegio dela Immaculada Concepcion in Cebu City will raise its tuition and other fees by nine percent and 6.68 percent. St. Theresa’s College, also in Cebu City, will also increase its tuition by 10 percent and 3.26 percent.

The Lyceum de San Sebastian in Compostela, Cebu, will increase its tuition by 27.04 percent and other fees by 27 percent.

Degamo explained that the schools that are implementing huge increases are those that did not implement any increase in fees in the last three to five years.

Based on DepEd guidelines, 70 percent of the increase should be allocated for the salary increases of teachers and 20 percent for improvement of school facilities. At least 10 percent is for school profits.

Degamo urged parents to report to DepEd any school that collects increases in fees without authority from DepEd. DepEd posts notices about schools that have met requirements for fee increases in school campuses or buildings.

Once a complaint is filed, a grievance committee from DepEd will conduct an ocular inspection to determine if the school should be sanctioned.