A major organization of private schools is seeking a hike in tuition and other fees this school year ranging from three percent to as high as 12 percent.
Kristine Manaoag, legal counsel of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), said most of their members have no choice but to ask for such a hike due to the increase in some commodities as well as operational expenses.
“Private schools are also affected, including their overhead expenses, salaries that need to be kept for our teachers and employees,” she said in an interview with radio DZBB
She said that private schools have to make do with what they earn from these fees as they are not funded or subsidized by the government.
Manaoag said 70 percent of the fees that will be collected from any tuition hike will go to the salaries of their teachers and non-teaching staff and the remaining 30 percent for the operation and maintenance of schools and facilities.
Manaoag, however, did not provide the number of their members who have asked for tuition hikes.
Any tuition increase will have to be studied by the Department of Education for basic education and the Commission on Higher Education for tertiary education.
