A total of 378 private schools and universities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will increase an average of 10 percent in their tuition this school year.
They said that while state universities are subsidized by the government, private schools would have to pay the expenses from their own pockets.
"Mga teachers, mga non-teaching personnel ay kailangan din naman namin bigyan ng kaunting increase sa kanilang sweldo," said Maricon Lupisan, dean of the College of Business, Miriam College.
Miriam College, reports said, will increase their tuition by five percent while the Emilio Aguinaldo College by four percent.
"The myth that the school is swimming in money that we can just increase compensations, absorb cost increases and without any adjustment in income," said Jose Paul Campos, president of the Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Private schools which have the highest tuition increase are those in the National Capital Region where the average per unit is P855 while the lowest is in Region XII with an average of P235 per unit.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said it cannot stop the tuition hikes in private schools.
"Iyong mga eskwelahan nakikita nila na yung turn-out ng enrollment ay medyo bumababa, may mga reconsideration of the planks," William Medrano, CHED executive director said.
However, if the student council and parents were not consulted about the tuition hike, a complaint can be filed before CHED.
State universities meanwhile can reportedly credit the excess tuition refund order of Preside Arroyo for the next semester or school year. CHED’s regional offices are tasked to monitor the compliance of SUCs to the directive.
"Walk the extra mile"
A CHED official on Wednesday also appealed to private tertiary schools to "walk the extra mile" and provide tuition discounts to students.
"CHED is pleading for them to walk the extra mile and try to look for other means to mitigate the high prices [of food, petroleum and electricity]," CHED deputy executive director Julito Vitriolo told radio dzMM.
If not a refund, Vitriolo said private schools can look for other ways to cushion the impact of the economic crisis on students and their parents.
Vitriolo made the pleading as President Arroyo ordered CHED to ask private schools to follow the government's lead in implementing a moratorium on hiking fees for state colleges and universities.
Mrs. Arroyo had ordered CHED to suspend tuition increases in state universities and colleges. The President had also told state schools to issue refunds to all the students who had already enrolled for schoolyear 2008-2009.
Vitriolo said the government cannot force private schools to lower their rates or provide discounts for students. He said that under the law, private schools can increase rates as long as they are reasonable and properly communicated to the parents and students.
CHED Commissioner Nona Ricafort had said that all the government do "is appeal" to private schools.
Mrs. Arroyo said the P1 billion that government earned from value-added tax in petroleum will be spent on additional scholarships and student loans.
She also ordered government agencies to release funds to build and repair schools and provide scholarships to high school, college and technical and vocational school students.
Vitriolo, meanwhile, said students and parents should ask CHED offices about the student financial aid programs. He their regional offices have a few "slots" for student scholarships for the coming schoolyear.
The education official said students can also avail of the "study now, pay later" or other programs that allows students and parents to pay tuition in installment.
He said the national government should allot more funds to CHED so that more students can avail of the financial assistance.
Small tokens
Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II said government should come up with a solid plan and not just small tokens to woo the public.
"The trust between the government and the public is in shambles. These little trinkets will not mean anything if the government does not act for the long term," Roxas said.
He cited the government’s efforts to freeze tuition increase in state universities and colleges, calling it timely with the rising prices of food and oil but lacking in terms of how the state plans to ensure quality education.
He, however, said that the government should also provide funds for books and educational materials and trainings for teachers. With reports from Timi Nubla, TV Patrol World