DepEd Okays Fee Hike of 19 Private Schools in Eastern Visayas

Palo, Leyte (PNA) -– The Department of Education (DepEd) regional office here has given 19 private schools in Eastern Visayas a go signal to raise their tuition fee and other school fees this new academic year.

Selected schools were given the permit to increase their tuition fee up to Php1,720 and miscellaneous fee of up to Php1,500 per student. The rate of increase is between 2.5 percent to 20 percent.

DepEd regional information officer Mercy Sarmiento said the field office is still deliberating the request of eight other schools for fee hike.

Education authorities are expected to finalize their ruling before the class starts on June 1.

“The department approves the application upon completion of required documents. We have to make sure that there is proper consultation and fees will be used for improvements,” Sarmiento said.

The official said that the 19 schools is only a small fraction of the nearly 300 private elementary and high school in Eastern Visayas.

Most of these schools are in Leyte province. These are the Holy Cross College of Carigara in Carigara, St. Paul’s Schools of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. in Ormoc City, St. Joseph High School of Dagami, Inc. in Dagami, Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, St. Mary’ Academy in Palo, Notre Dame of Jaro in Jaro, Notre Dame of Abuyog in Abuyog, Liceo Del Virbo Divino in Tacloban City, Holy Child Parish of Isabel, Inc. in Isabel and LIDE Learning Center.

In Samar Island, these schools are Santa Teresita De Laoang, Inc. in Laoang, Northern Samar; St. Michael’s Academy in Catarman, Northern Samar; St. Mary’s Academy of Guiuan, Inc. in Guiuan, Eastern Samar and St. Mary’s College of Borongan, Inc. in Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

The DepEd also approved fee adjustments for Southern Leyte private schools — the Cristo Rey Regional High School, Inc. in St. Bernard, Santo Niòo Academy in Malitbog and Libagon Academy Foundation Inc. in Libagon.

All of these schools are seeking fee hike for secondary learners except Liceo Del Verbo Divino and Holy Child Parish of Isabel, Inc. with approved adjustment for kindergarten and elementary 6 enrolees.

“Fee adjustment in public school has effects to public school because chances are the learners will transfer to public school,” Sarmiento added.

However, the department will continue providing subsidies to private schools for learners to have access to education services being offered by the private sector. (PNA) LGI/RCK/SARWELL Q. MENIANO