The Department of Education (DepEd) has warned private schools against increasing tuition for the coming school year. According to Education Secretary Jesli Lapus they will not hesitate to use their regulatory powers to protect the interests of students should certain schools show a lack of sensitivity to current economic conditions. Lapus urged private schools to exercise self-restraint amid the current economic crisis, which has been affecting educational institutions as well. Lapus said private schools must file applications for proposals to increase tuition. The deadline for application has been set to March 30.

The DepEd has been conducting austerity measures as the global economic crisis also affects the Philippines. Lapus had earlier called for public schools to avoid collecting fees for graduation rites. He also said schools must not require extravagant clothing for the graduation exercises.

Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Chairman Emmanuel Angeles said private universities and colleges manifested their support for President Arroyo’s call to help poor students and their families cope with the adverse effects of the global economic downturn.

Angeles said he visited Eastern Visayas last Thursday and got a 100 percent response from both private and public colleges and universities there. He added that he is pleased by the positive response of private schools’ officials in other regions to the President’s appeal for a moratorium on tuition increase this year. Perhaps only 10 percent will increase their rates. So it is working and we will continue appealing to them,” he said.

But in spite of this positive development, hundreds of students took to the streets Friday their protest against the impending tuition and miscellaneous fee hike sought by colleges and universities this coming school year.