THERE is a price to pay for quality education.
Vice-Rector for Finance Fr. Melchor Saria, O.P. said the University will implement a 15 per cent tuition increase this school year, primarily to cover the salary increase of faculty members as provided in their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Fr. Saria told the Varsitarian that 16.8 per cent is actually needed to cover the CBA increase, but the administration will just raise tuition by 15 per cent.
Fr. Saria added that the rising cost of living and the purchased power adjustment were no longer considered as bases for the increase.
“If we are going to compute and use (them), siguro computation-wise, baka maging minimum noon is 25 per cent,” he said. “Sa laki ng University natin at sa laki ng electricity consumption natin, baka mas mataas pa.”
Outgoing Central Student Council vice-president Kristine Dionne Cañedo said that during the consultation last Feb. 22, the administration also said the increase would cover faculty benefits such as free graduate education and free education for the faculty’s kids.
Also, during the consultation, Fr. Saria justified the increase to retain UST’s standing as one of the country’s top universities by virtue of the centers of excellence it has earned and the noteworthy performances of Thomasians in licensure examinations.
“It is very clear na kung sa price value, investing your enrollment fees sa University right now is at that price level. Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University would have twice as much as our tuition, but at least our graduates are very competitive,” Fr. Saria explained.
He added that the increase is also for maintaining the University facilities and the construction of additional multimedia classrooms. Fr. Saria said the Blackboard, an interactive-based learning software for selected colleges and faculties, will be introduced this school year.
”We are going to implement the initial phase of Blackboard. But we can only charge those groups na meron na noon,” Fr. Saria said.
To give the students their money’s worth, Fr. Saria said inefficient faculty members would be given the pink slip. But the University will accord them due process, he added.
Student activists in the University warned that the tuition increase would further make UST education unaffordable.
But, Fr. Saria said quality education comes with a certain price.
“There is also a price to pay.” he said. “As much as we would like to give (education) for free (because we are a Catholic institution), we live in the real world.” Ma. Cristina S. Lavapie
