The rising cost of education

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By Juliane Judilla

As the new academic year approaches, students in Iloilo are grappling not only with an academic calendar shift but also with the rising cost of education—raising the question: is education becoming exclusive?

For years, students in private higher education institutions (PHEIs) have faced steep increases in tuition and other school fees.

According to Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 3, Series of 2012—aligned with Republic Act 7722 (Higher Education Act)—PHEIs must consider several factors before increasing tuition and other school fees (TOSF).

Republic Act 6728, or the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act, mandates proper consultation and publication, with 70% of incremental proceeds allocated to personnel compensation and benefits, 20% to facility improvement, and 10% as a return on investment aimed at improving school services.

Other considerations include the regional inflation rate (as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority), institutional financial standing, student financial capacity, impact of calamities, academic track record, and institutional mission and vision.

At Central Philippine University (CPU), a Protestant private school in Jaro, Iloilo, a 15% increase in TOSF has sparked widespread debate.

Meanwhile, other PHEIs, such as the University of San Agustin, announced they will not raise tuition fees.

In response, CPU students have been expressing their concerns through anonymous submissions to the Facebook page C Confessions.

“Every year, tuition and miscellaneous fees keep increasing—yet we see little to no improvement in return,” one student wrote on June 7.

“The internet is unreliable, classrooms are outdated, and activities that once brought joy and unity are now gone. It feels like we’re being asked to give more while receiving less.”

“CPU is slowly losing its spark,” the student added. “What once felt like a vibrant and student-centered university now feels cold, silent, and disconnected.”

Another post from June 12 read: “I enrolled at CPU for quality education and spiritual enrichment. I stayed because I couldn’t afford to leave—literally.”

“They raised the tuition while I was still calculating my lunch budget and ended up having siomai rice again at UY.”

“No one warned me that being a Centralian meant budgeting like a full-time accountant and praying like a pastor. My degree isn’t just academic—it’s spiritual and financial warfare.”

Kabataan Partylist – Panay also spoke out against tuition hikes, saying many students in PHEIs are being forced to drop out due to unaffordable fees.

“In this economy, where the cost of basic necessities is at an all-time high and families are already struggling to make ends meet, where will a student—who just wants to access quality education—stand?” said Crimson Labinghisa, former secretary general of Kabataan Partylist – Panay.

The group also argued that rising tuition fees in PHEIs mirror the shrinking national budget for the education sector, especially for state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“For years, we have called for increased funding for the education sector so that more schools can offer quality education for free,” Labinghisa said.

“That way, more young people won’t have to resort to private schools, where they face rising fees and are often forced to quit school and accept low-paying jobs.”

Former ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro echoed the call, noting that the Philippines has yet to meet the United Nations guideline of allocating 6% of gross domestic product (GDP) to education.

“Every year, the education budget falls short of the needs of students, teachers, and infrastructure,” she said.

“Unlike other countries, the Philippines fails to meet the UN standard of allocating at least 6% of GDP to education.”

“That’s why we continue to push for a doubled education budget—to eliminate cuts to SUCs and make tertiary education more accessible,” Castro added.

In April, Kabataan Partylist – Panay, along with then Rep. Raoul Manuel and representatives from Western Visayas private schools and youth groups, submitted a petition to the CHED Regional Office 6 calling for free, quality, and accessible education.

The petition, signed by more than 1,000 students, parents, workers, and other sectoral representatives, demanded the scrapping of tuition hikes and the K-12 program, which they said further burdens Filipino youth and families.

As tuition increases and funding gaps persist, the call grows stronger for a free, inclusive, and accessible education system—one that is nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented.