Law Summary
Authority to Determine Tuition and School Fees
- Pursuant to Section 42 of Batas Pambansa 232 (Education Act of 1982), private schools set their own tuition and fees.
- Guidelines apply to all education levels including pre-school, elementary, secondary, and tertiary (vocational/technical) schools for 1993-1994.
School Fees for Elementary Schools Including Pre-Schools
- Elementary and pre-schools may freely set tuition and fees.
- These schools are not required to conduct consultations under the specified guidelines.
School Fees for Secondary Schools
- Secondary schools set tuition and fees subject to consultation requirements if increases exceed specified limits.
- If previous fees were below P1,900.00, increases up to P290.00 do not require consultation.
- Increases above P290.00 require consultation.
- If fees were P1,900.00 or more, all increases require consultation.
School Fees for Tertiary Schools (Colleges and Universities)
- Tertiary schools, including vocational/technical schools, set fees subject to consultation when increases exceed specified thresholds.
- If prior semestral per unit tuition was P80.00 or less, increase up to P12.00 per unit does not require consultation.
- Fee increases beyond P12.00 per unit require consultation.
- If prior tuition was above P80.00 per unit, all increases require consultation.
Documentation Requirements for Fee Increases
- Schools increasing fees must submit by June 15, 1993:
- Letter of advice to the DECS Regional Office indicating intent to comply with RA No. 6728.
- Certification under oath confirming compliance with RA No. 6728 including:
- Conduct of appropriate consultations.
- Allocation of 70% of subsidies/fee increase to salaries, wages, and benefits (excluding administrators who are principal stockholders).
- Allocation of at least 20% to modernization and operational costs.
- Granting of full/half tuition waivers to 5% of incoming freshmen or all tertiary students (for schools charging more than P80/unit).
- Schedule of fees for prior and current school year showing percentage and peso changes.
Consultation Procedures
- Schools must consult with organized parents, teachers, and faculty associations for secondary schools.
- For tertiary institutions, consultations must include student governments, alumni, and faculty associations or equivalent groups.
- Audited financial statements must be made available to authorized representatives during consultation.
- Consultations should occur before enrollment or at least before classes begin.
- Efforts should be made to resolve disagreements.
- In case of unresolved disputes, an impartial arbitrator (such as the alumni association) shall decide.
- Schools may collect fee increases but must hold disputed amounts in escrow pending arbitration.
Government Tuition Fee Subsidies
- Tuition financial assistance pursuant to RA No. 6728 is provided as vouchers:
- P290.00 voucher for students in private high schools charging less than P1,900.00 in the prior year.
- Voucher for tuition increases up to P12.00 per unit for students in certain priority courses at private colleges and universities charging P80.00 or less per unit.
Effectivity and Repeal
- The Order takes effect immediately upon adoption.
- All prior inconsistent orders or provisions are repealed or amended accordingly.