Enrolling Students beware of "Miscellaneous Fees"

Partylist bucks ‘hidden fees’ of schools - Leading schools are imposing charges in the guise of miscellaneous fees, said a partylist lawmaker.

Kabataan partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino on Thursday told the Senate committee on education arts and culture that regulations on tuition increases were being circumvented.

“There are colleges and universities that display banners saying no tuition fee increase. That’s true... there are increases in miscellaneous fees that they can forego tuition fee increases,” he said.

Palatino said St. Scholastica’s College charged students for thesis proposal, thesis editing and resumé printing while Collegio de San Juan de Letran collected Pistang Pinoy fee.

According to him, University of Nueva Caceles in Naga City’s band fee is paralleled by a memorabilia fee at Polytechnic University of the Philippines alongside a communication fee in Central Luzon State University.

The Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities said miscellaneous charges made possible a more conducive learning environment.

“Without the necessary increases, higher education schools would not be able to afford and maintain additional services and other school facilities with the rising cost of basic utilities, petroleum and energy,” the group said in a staement.

Commission on Higher Education head Julito Vitriolo said the Education Act of 1982 allowed schools to determine increases on fees provided 70 percent went to payment of salaries and other benefits of the teaching and non-teaching personnel, 20% to upgrading facilities and buildings, leaving a 10% profit margin.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education said about 75% of 10,000 private schools are accredited and have permits to operate.

The DepEd information office said students finishing a grade or year level in a non-recognized school will have to take a govenrment validating test before being allowed to enrol elsewhere.

By Rey Salita with Gigi Muñoz David