Malacañang warns against school hidden fees

Malacañang Friday, warned school administrators' about "hidden" fees that they charge parents and students.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, the Commission on Higher Education is working on a framework to rationalize the miscellaneous fees charged by colleges and universities.

"We encourage administrators to communicate with other stakeholders so that all concerned are assured of a fee system that has no hidden surprises," Lacierda said.

He stressed that transparency and accountability must be the hallmark not just of public, but also of private service, all educational institutions entrusted with the hard-earned funds of their students have an obligation to make the fees they collect demonstrably relevant and logical to those assessed those fees.

"All educational institutions entrusted with the hard-earned funds of their students have an obligation to make the fees they collect demonstrably relevant and logical," Lacierda said.

The spokesperson informed that the late late Raul S. Roco had instituted reforms in this regard in the primary and secondary levels and it is necessary to accord parents and students the same assurance in the tertiary level.

"The lofty goals of education should not be a cloak for charging fees that are either arbitrarily set or assessed with a lack of clarity, ending up violating the consumer rights of students and parents," he said.

Meanwhile, CHED Executive Director Julito Vitriolo will have a meeting with students and schools administrations as regards miscellaneous fees that they will charge. — ARA