Families brace for higher tuition

It’s still two months away to school year 2012 but this early, two families started cutting costs in anticipation of the impending tuition increase.

“Because of the tuition fee increase, we will no longer use the aircon even if  the kids’ bedroom is hot. We will also limit use of our other appliances,”  said 50-year-old Emily Tan, a resident of barangay Bulacao Pardo, Cebu City.

While she and her husband Freddie had to work double-time to ensure that their kids remain in private school, the Tugonon household saw three of its four children  transfer to public school due to rising tuition.

About 26 private schools in elementary and secondary levels along with major universities in Cebu recently requested a tuition increase effective this incoming school year.

Four of these universities include the University of San Carlos (USC), University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U), and the University of the Visayas (UV).

USC requested a 10 percent tuition increase in all levels while CIT-U and USJR sought a seven percent and 7.5 percent tuition increase respectively. UV sought a five percent tuition increase.

But the school excludes incoming first year students in graduate school programs like medicine, law and dentistry.

The Tan couple’s four children—Meishel, Hazel, Kiezel and Liezel—studied in private school since the elementary level.

Hazel, Kiezel and Liezel are taking up Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (BSPT) at the Cebu Doctors’ University which charges P35,000 per semester.

The Tan family pays P2,300 monthly rent for their house of almost 29 years.

“We prioritize the education of our children so, a lot of people won’t believe that we are still renting a house,” Freddie said.

Emily and Freddie worked as freelance agents in real estate, insurance and medical companies.

“To save money, I only give a P20 daily allowance to my children each for the jeepney fare. And instead of eating in fast-food chains or at the school canteen, I prepare their snacks and lunch,” Emily said.

Marichu Tugonon, a mother of four children, said only her eldest daughter Cristy Marich remained in private school, taking up Mass Communications at USJR at P18,000 per semester.

Marichu’s husband Wilson used to worked in Saudi Arabia and is now a project supervisor. Though they are resigned to rising tuition, the Tan and Tumogon families still hope for the best.

Freddie Tan said a good education guarantees that their children get better chances of being employed. “We will strive hard so that my daughter will finished her studies but, we will not transfer her to another school,” Marichu said.