Official Statement: Tuition Fee Increases in Region X

We have seen another wave of tuition fee increases in the region for the incoming school year as seen in the table below. This has in effect made higher education a more expensive investment especially for the greater mass of people.

While we understand the economic reality requires the school to meet the cost to sustain operations, we are also mindful of the important legal obligations that school has to meet:

In response to this reality and under the guidance of youth development agenda, the Oro Youth Development Council calls on the following:

1. The school administration to earnestly conduct in-depth and substantive consultations – not just for show or for meeting paper requirements –particularly with the student governments on the matter of the increases and provide alternative options for sectors within the school community that could not afford the increase. This should be done in earnest in the next round for the preparation of the school’s budget plan.

2. Considering that inflation is an economic reality, The CHED and Local Government should therefore meet this growing cost with growing scholarship opportunities and other forms of educational assistance. The LGU should strengthen the distribution of these services which should be merit based and needs based. Politically motivated pattern of disbursing these services should be eliminated in the process. A multi-sectoral and independent body should be created to monitor these educational assistance programs.

3. Lastly, the student government should organize and exert greater influence in the deliberation processes in matters of tuition fee increases. Examine and scrutinize the budget plan and see where the increases are going. If seen as just and reasonable, promote greater transparency and greater access to scholarship programs. If seen as oppressive and unjust, do not hesitate to demonstrate your capacity and power to voice out and act on your right to affordable education.