By By Juliane Judilla
Iloilo City – Students from various private higher education institutions (PHEIs), alongside progressive youth groups, staged a picket protest in front of West Visayas State University on Friday, February 14, to voice their opposition to the impending increase in tuition and other fees (TOFI).
The demonstrators expressed alarm over the continuous rise in tuition fees among PHEIs, citing its long-term impact on students and their families. They argued that the increasing cost of education is making it more difficult for students to complete their studies, especially amid the ongoing economic crisis.
According to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 3, Series of 2012, which aligns with Republic Act 7722 (Higher Education Act), PHEIs must take several factors into account before increasing tuition and other school fees (TOSF). These factors include the regional inflation rate determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the financial standing of the institution, the financial capacity of the student body, the impact of calamities, the school’s quality track record, and its mission and vision.
Comprehensive youth group Anakbayan pointed out that many of these factors are currently in effect. They cited the country’s economic struggles, including the 3.6% inflation rate recorded as of January 25 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The group also emphasized that while tuition fees continue to rise, wages remain stagnant despite the P30 increase in the minimum wage implemented last year.
“Salaries [of parents and workers] are already low, while the prices of goods continue to rise. Where will students and parents get the money for payments if tuition fees increase even more?” said Matt Gonzaga, spokesperson of Anakbayan-Panay.
“That’s why the call is very loud—not only to increase the budget for education and scrap the TOFI, but also to raise the wages of workers,” he added.
Kabataan Partylist – Panay also highlighted the adverse effects of tuition hikes, stating that many students from PHEIs are being forced to drop out due to the unaffordable cost of education. They stressed that this growing trend contributes to the worsening state of the Philippine education sector.
“In this economy, where the cost of basic necessities is at an all-time high and families are already struggling to make ends meet, where will a student, who just wants to achieve accessible and quality education, stand?” said Crimson Labinghisa, former Secretary General of Kabataan Partylist – Panay.
“For years, we have been calling for an increase in the education sector’s budget, so that more schools can offer quality education for free. This way, the majority of the youth won’t have to resort to enrolling in private schools and suffer from rising tuition fees, eventually being forced to stop their studies to work and accept low wages,” she added.
The protest serves as a call to action for educational institutions and government agencies to prioritize accessible and affordable education for all students. The groups vowed to continue their fight against unjust tuition increases and push for reforms in the education system./PT
