CHEd implements tuition fee hike without consultation with students, parents; Malacanang scholarship fund being used to bribe and reward lawmakers
May 28, 2007
CHEd implements tuition fee hike without consultation with students, parents; Malacanang scholarship fund being used to bribe and reward lawmakers
Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today expressed protest against the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)'s approval of a tuition hike of up to eight percent for 80 private colleges and universities nationwide. According to reports, CHED chairman Carlito Puno approved the applications of the 80 private schools, which claimed they could not afford to pay their personnel anymore. The tuition hike effective for school year 2007-2008, will range from 5 to 8 percent. School owners had cited a 6.2% inflation rate in their application for a tuition hike this school year.
"CHED has taken the word of the private schools that they're severely affected by inflation. What about the parents of the students? Aren't they affected by inflation? Where will they get the additional funds to cover the increase in tuition fees? Malacanang and the CHED approved a tuition increase without first consulting with students and their families. Also, it's not just the private institutions that will be jacking their fees, but the government-run schools, universities and colleges as well," he said.
"There has been no substantial increase in the wages and salaries of the parents of the students; how will they accommodate this new increase in tuition fees? Malacanag has essentially vetoed legislation that will enable workers in both the private and public sectors to benefit from a P125 wage increase or a P3,000 increase in salary," he said.
"Without doubt, there will be more students dropping out from school this school year because of this tuition fee increase."
Beltran also scored Malacanang for its promise that it will provide scholarships to indigent students via a new P187 million scholarship program.
"And how much will each congressman give per student? P5,000 to P7,000 maximum per year? That's not much of a scholarship given the increase in tuition and other fees. Also, there is no guarantee that the P187 million will go the intended beneficiaries. Unscrupulous lawmakers might very well use the funds to serve their own personal and political interests, at the expense of projected beneficiaries," he said.
Beltran said that Malacanang will be using the scholarship fund both as a bribe and a reward to incoming lawmakers to support Pres. Arroyo's legislative agenda, and to make sure that they do not support any impeachment complaint against the president. #
CHEd implements tuition fee hike without consultation with students, parents; Malacanang scholarship fund being used to bribe and reward lawmakers
Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today expressed protest against the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)'s approval of a tuition hike of up to eight percent for 80 private colleges and universities nationwide. According to reports, CHED chairman Carlito Puno approved the applications of the 80 private schools, which claimed they could not afford to pay their personnel anymore. The tuition hike effective for school year 2007-2008, will range from 5 to 8 percent. School owners had cited a 6.2% inflation rate in their application for a tuition hike this school year.
"CHED has taken the word of the private schools that they're severely affected by inflation. What about the parents of the students? Aren't they affected by inflation? Where will they get the additional funds to cover the increase in tuition fees? Malacanang and the CHED approved a tuition increase without first consulting with students and their families. Also, it's not just the private institutions that will be jacking their fees, but the government-run schools, universities and colleges as well," he said.
"There has been no substantial increase in the wages and salaries of the parents of the students; how will they accommodate this new increase in tuition fees? Malacanag has essentially vetoed legislation that will enable workers in both the private and public sectors to benefit from a P125 wage increase or a P3,000 increase in salary," he said.
"Without doubt, there will be more students dropping out from school this school year because of this tuition fee increase."
Beltran also scored Malacanang for its promise that it will provide scholarships to indigent students via a new P187 million scholarship program.
"And how much will each congressman give per student? P5,000 to P7,000 maximum per year? That's not much of a scholarship given the increase in tuition and other fees. Also, there is no guarantee that the P187 million will go the intended beneficiaries. Unscrupulous lawmakers might very well use the funds to serve their own personal and political interests, at the expense of projected beneficiaries," he said.
Beltran said that Malacanang will be using the scholarship fund both as a bribe and a reward to incoming lawmakers to support Pres. Arroyo's legislative agenda, and to make sure that they do not support any impeachment complaint against the president. #
posted at 5:06 PM
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