CHED to colleges: Go easy on OFWs’ children who can't pay tuition now

With just one week to go before the school year starts, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) appealed to colleges and universities to go easy on students who cannot pay their tuition early, especially children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles said a promissory note should be enough for such students to be allowed to enroll and study this school year. "Ang nahirapan at hindi makapasok dahil may delay sa tuition, mga (anak ng) OFW, meron din tayong mga assistance, tutulungan natin. (Ang promissory note) pwede 'yan (We have to assist those who have problems raising tuition money for enrollment, particularly children of OFWs whose remittances are delayed. A promissory note should do)," Angeles said in an interview on dzBB radio. "Maging considerate naman sila. Pwedeng gumawa ng promissory note (They should be considerate. A promissory note should be allowed)," he added. He added Filipino students should not be denied the right to education just because the money for their tuition came in late. On the other hand, he advised students in colleges and universities to approach the Office of Student Affairs for possible financial assistance. Meanwhile, Angeles said late enrolment is still allowed within this week. He said the CHED expects less than 10 percent of colleges and universities this school year to hike their tuition. Angeles said they expect 70 percent of the tuition hike to go to increases in teachers' salaries. The commission earlier approved a tuition increase of up to P50 per unit in over 300 schools in the country. (See: More than 300 schools allowed to increase tuition) "Kung may problemang 'di malutas [at the college level], pwede nila akong puntahan (If they have problems that cannot be solved at the college level), they can call my attention to it," he said.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV