Statement of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda:
On the Commission on Higher Education, schools’ performance, and tuition fees
[Released on June 1, 2011]
“Study right and study smart”
Parents and students must be the partners of government in demanding excellence from educators. Educational institutions are permitted to adjust their tuition fees within reasonable levels but with the reasonable expectation that these fees will benefit their students first and foremost and not just pad the accounts of shareholders. Countless Filipino families undertake tremendous sacrifices to ensure a brighter future for the next generation by investing in a good education for our students. It is a disservice to everyone concerned, if sacrifices are made by parents and students only for their hard-earned resources to end up going to substandard schools.
The Commission on Higher Education, in fulfillment of the President’s policy of ensuring excellence in education, has sent cease-and-desist letters to institutions whose graduates do badly in licensure examinations or which do not comply with quality standards set by the CHED. Schools that do not do well must shape up or else have their non-performing programs discontinued or shut down.
Even as CHED undertakes the process of review, parents and students should thoroughly scrutinize the performance of schools they intend to entrust with the schooling of future professionals. We can, and must, work together to demand quality education and for schools to demonstrate suitable achievements to justify their continued existence.
