LFS calls for regulation of private school tuition; says "education vultures" raking millions in profits

June 7, 2008

The League of Filipino Students (LFS) today questioned the non-inclusion of private schools in the tuition moratorium announcement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and insisted that tuition in private schools should be regulated by the Commission on Higehr Education (CHED) and the government.

According LFS national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo, there are currently more private tertiary schools than public schools and more student are enrolled in tertiary private schools.

"As of 2004, there were only 424 public schools as opposed to 1,363 private schools. And the private schools are the ones more notorious in increasing their tuition unjustly precisely because government refuses to regulate tuition," said Crisostomo.

Crisostomo said that there should be no reason to allow increases in tuition in private schools as most of the schools are raking hundreds of millions in profits from their collection of unjust fees.

"The biggest private schools like University of the East, Centro Escolar University, Mapua Institute of Tech, Far Eastern University, Feati, Natl Teachers College, Manila Cenral University, Cebu Doctors University, Velez College, are consistently in the list of the country's Top 1000 Corporations. These schools register profits as big as P292M annually, and equities amounting to as much as P1.9B," he said, citing data from the Top Moneymakers feature in the 2003 issue of Graphic.

Crisostomo said that this only proves that "vulture" school owners are indeed "robbing" the students and parents of precious education money in order to make business.

"Many will not be able to enroll this year because of the greed of the big 'capitalist-educators.' In this light, allowing them to raise tuition further is criminal," Crisostomo said.

According to Crisostomo, tuition increases in private schools will effect more drop-outs this year. "Out of a 10 students who enter Grade 1 only 2 will reach college, and only 1 will get to have a degree. This situation will worsen for sure as tuition fees soar," he said.

Crisostomo also said that it is within the powers of CHEd to regulate tuition.

"No less than the 1987 Constitution states the responsibility of the state to ensure quality and accessible education. The governemnment should be held responsible for betraying the Constitution and letting tertiary education fall in the hands of vultures," he said. 

Crisostomo cited Art. XIV, Sec. 1 of the 1987 Constitution which states:

The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

Also, Sec. 4 (1) of the 1987 Constitution more clearly stipulates the government's regulatory policy:

The State recognizes the complementary roles of public and private institutions in the educational system and shall exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions.

According to CHEd data, 378 private tertiary schools have implemented a tuition increase this year with a nationwide average of 10%.

The LFS wants the tuition increases suspended and investigated in order to effect a rollback in rates if schools are proven to have abused their discretion in raising school fees. #

Reference: Vencer Crisostomo, 09228262606
Roniel Villegas, 09157991059