MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 5, 2013) – San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada said he is seeking to institutionalize the participation of affected sectors in the process of approving tuition and other increases in school fees in the country’s universities and colleges.
Under House Bill (HB) 4598 authored by Ejercito Estrada, a National Tuition Fee Rationalization Council (NTFRC) will be created and will broaden the participation in the process by including representatives from sectors such as parents, student councils, campus publications, faculty associations, among others, as members.
The bill, to be known as the Tuition Fee Rationalization Act, seeks to address the problem of business-minded educational institutions that impose exorbitant tuition and other school fees every year.
“Students and parents are the most affected whenever there are tuition fee adjustments. This is why we included parents and students as sectoral representatives, so that they can have their say as members of the NTFRC,” the young lawmaker said.
Ejercito Estrada, who is running for the Senate in the May polls, said the immediate enactment of the measure creating a multi-sectoral body that will regulate school fees is imperative particularly since more and more educational institutions are increasing their tuition and other fees on a regular basis.
The solon noted that in the 2009-2010 school year, more than 50 percent of universities and colleges raised their tuition. In the 2010-2011 school year, he said 376 private universities and colleges all over the country implemented tuition hikes.
The NTFRC is envisioned to be chaired by the Commission on Higher Education, and will include representatives from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Economic and Development Authority, and Philippine Association of State Colleges and Universities as members.
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