DepEd grants tuition hike to 1,299 private schools

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MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) approved the tuition hike of 1,299 private schools nationwide for the coming school year 2014-2015.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo explained that the tuition hike is necessary to further improve the quality of education in private schools.

“The increase in tuition is reasonable,” Mateo reiterated in an interview with reporters.

According to him, the tuition increase is allotted for the following purpose: 70 percent for the salary of teachers, 20 percent for the improvement of school facilities and 10 percent for the school profit.

The DepEd also assured that the increase is in accordance with its guidelines.

Before the approval of the increase, schools submitted documents namely sworn statement that would explain why they are applying for an increase, financial statement and the allocation of the tuition increase to the Regional Directors.

They also conducted prior consultations with parents and teachers pursuant to the DepEd’s Revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools under DepEd Order No. 88, series of 2010 and Republic Act No. 6728.

Data from the department show that Region 6 has the most number of schools that increased their tuition with 311 followed by Region 1 (246) and Region 2 (244).

The number of private schools given tuition increase this year is 17 percent higher compared to last year’s 1,076 schools.