Solons appeal for 'social responsibility' on tuition hikes
02/26/2009 | 11:32 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Admitting government is helpless against looming tuition hikes, lawmakers on Thursday appealed to educators to have a sense of "social responsibility."
Rep. Mariano Piamonte (A-Teacher party-list) also chided House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. for claiming they can use oversight powers to grill educators who raise tuition and other fees.
"I would rather leave the matter to the schools, the community, school sectors, faculty and students to decide on the increase. I am sure that schools would really consider the effects of the global crisis," Piamonte said in an article on the House of Representatives website.
He admitted Congress could not compel schools to defer the tuition hike because they are bounded by the guidelines of the Education Act of 1992.
This law allows schools to impose tuition increases that will cover the salaries and benefits of their personnel.
"It is not politically correct for the House to threaten schools with closure if they cannot justify their proposed increase in tuition fees and other school fees. You can only do that to private citizens," Piamonte said.
"Let us not issue statements without studying its implications especially if they are not school educators because only an educator will know how it is to run a school," he added.
Piamonte suggested that the government share part of the stimulus funds by providing scholarships.
On the other hand, he said the number of schools that signified their intentions to raise tuition this year represents less than 10 percent of the total number of private colleges and universities.
"This is so far the lowest percentage of schools who have filed for tuition-fee increases. In the past, the CHED would report 25% to 30%. This is an indication that schools are sensitive to the global crisis," he said.
For her part, Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon (Caloocan City) pushed for "conscientious and vigorous efforts" to avert any tuition increases at this time "when the country is reeling from the ill effects of global financial crisis."
She warned hiking tuition may bring about increased school dropouts and sustained exodus of students from private to public schools thus resulting in further marginalization of the youth.
"I fully hope that the schools will be compassionate enough to heed the mounting calls for the tuition hike suspension, otherwise, I will be inclined to support the proposed measure for a legislated freeze on tuition increases for at least a period of three years," she said. - GMANews.TV
Rep. Mariano Piamonte (A-Teacher party-list) also chided House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. for claiming they can use oversight powers to grill educators who raise tuition and other fees.
"I would rather leave the matter to the schools, the community, school sectors, faculty and students to decide on the increase. I am sure that schools would really consider the effects of the global crisis," Piamonte said in an article on the House of Representatives website.
He admitted Congress could not compel schools to defer the tuition hike because they are bounded by the guidelines of the Education Act of 1992.
This law allows schools to impose tuition increases that will cover the salaries and benefits of their personnel.
"It is not politically correct for the House to threaten schools with closure if they cannot justify their proposed increase in tuition fees and other school fees. You can only do that to private citizens," Piamonte said.
"Let us not issue statements without studying its implications especially if they are not school educators because only an educator will know how it is to run a school," he added.
Piamonte suggested that the government share part of the stimulus funds by providing scholarships.
On the other hand, he said the number of schools that signified their intentions to raise tuition this year represents less than 10 percent of the total number of private colleges and universities.
"This is so far the lowest percentage of schools who have filed for tuition-fee increases. In the past, the CHED would report 25% to 30%. This is an indication that schools are sensitive to the global crisis," he said.
For her part, Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon (Caloocan City) pushed for "conscientious and vigorous efforts" to avert any tuition increases at this time "when the country is reeling from the ill effects of global financial crisis."
She warned hiking tuition may bring about increased school dropouts and sustained exodus of students from private to public schools thus resulting in further marginalization of the youth.
"I fully hope that the schools will be compassionate enough to heed the mounting calls for the tuition hike suspension, otherwise, I will be inclined to support the proposed measure for a legislated freeze on tuition increases for at least a period of three years," she said. - GMANews.TV
