Who remembers a time when fuel pump prices were once dictated by the government? Like the price should be this and that and the increase or decrease this week should be for this amount of centavo or that. I do remember. At times these days, it is not easy for me to imagine that once, just some few years ago, fuel prices were in fact controlled by the government thru the Department of Energy. I feel somehow that those good old days were so many eons ago.
But years after the oil deregulation law took effect; we examine now the end results. Oil prices have skyrocketed since then and there were times one could feel that drowning feeling while oil companies had for one time increased oil prices in rapid succession of price hikes. As a daily consumer of fuel products---I did for once felt that the whole world had tumbled down on me and that it was about time to accept that car driving would not be a common necessity anymore, but one that should be a luxurious activity. With that level of prices---car use have now become an expensive commodity. I have known a number of individuals who have disposed of their cars due to the high prices of petroleum and some have just decided to keep their car in the garage---and not used them as frequently anymore.
Such were the effect of deregulating oil prices by the government. Drivers and car owners suddenly found themselves in a whole new world where a lot of adjustments have to be made and where previous conveniences had to be set-aside. Somehow, as time goes by, we just have to accept the new set of realities for factors are outside of our hands. The period of adjustment were truly hard, but nothing can be done, except to slowly and gradually be used to the present set-up.
Now, let us go to another issue that is now hounding the nation; which in my mind hold similar circumstance with the controversy that arose when the government finally let-go of oil price control. Just days ago, the Commission On Higher Education had ordered the tuition price hike cap removed and from that day on, every college or university could increased their fees at whatever rate they deem and there’d be no limitation whatsoever. This news may not have gained enough interest among the public, unlike the burning protests that had met the oil price deregulation some years ago. Yet, I feel that this issue should be as urgent and as vital for we are talking here about the education of the mass of youngsters in our midst. To be sure, newer set of realities would be hard to take and that every Filipino parent spending for their kid’s education would be hard-pressed to accept a much difficult set of realities Just like we car drivers have to be compelled to accept that driving now is nearly a luxurious activity.
And this is not ideal at all.
CHED had presumed that schools wouldn’t dare to increase their prices so exorbitantly since they would fear losing students because of that. But how can they be so sure and did CHED did some scientific and empirical study on this; examining and studying schools behavior and characteristic and have methodically concluded that anyway, schools would not increase fees for fear of losing students. Gosh, only in the Philippines where government directives are merely based on unstudied assumptions.
And there’s another such presumptions where CHED had concluded that by allowing unmitigated tuition fee increase, colleges and universities in our country could now become globally competitive. It may or may not. But they are so sure it would and therefore justify this seemingly rash directive.
I do for one recognize the need of private educational institutions to self-sufficiency and need for additional resources, but I believe that there’s a better way to enact this kind of radical changes, especially that we are talking here about the price of education which is the most difficult problem that the Filipino parent faces, next to food and clothing.
And besides, what happens to that constitutional mandate that education should be very accessible to the public and even free, if possible. I can see a constitutional challenge that could arise from this controversy.
I believe that safeguards should have been instituted, like a gradual phasing out of the tuition fee increase cap---like say over three to five years---wherein in that manner, the populace would not feel a shock in the system and a shock in their pockets. And one safety mechanism that I think should have been instituted is that very important guarantee that present students should not be meted any increases beyond the previous 10% limitation or otherwise it would be highly unjusticeable that they have to find and transfer to other schools while being enrolled at a school which they initially thought they could afford and sustain.
The unbridled and unmitigated tuition price increases should only be applied to incoming students---that way, prior notice is applied and effected where “prior notice” to parents is one of the most important factor in any tuition fee increases in previous CHED law or directives. But now it seems they have completely disregarded it. Just like that.
Governments or government functionalities shouldn’t act like this. They ought to enact radical changes in a very gentle and cautious manner for after all, they are dealing with people here, and not programmed androids.
Major Tom you have an idea as to why the CHED/government ordered to have this removed? Education nowadays is very very expensive. Without the government's control, colleges and universities will surely grab the chance to increase much higher than the previous years. I saw that interview on TV where somebody (cant remember his name...probably from CHED)said that,yes, universities wouldn't dare increase so much because when they did the last time, their enrollment rate decreased so they wouldn't abuse daw. But I agree with you. How can they be so sure that they wont?
Comment by verns — April 24, 2007 @ 11:36 am
To verns: There should be relief knowing that with the threat of decrease enrolment, there could be little inclination to increase fees. Yet, I worry about the probable onset of abuses and safeguards are just not well-established; And in my estimation, the law of supply and demand could not always be used as a basis since we all know that in our culture, or in general, schools with good names are much sought after and they could bully their way into higher fees, making quality education farther from the reach of ordinary Juan and Maria.
They have this idea that rankings of our universities and colleges could get more competitive with allowance of tuition fee increases but I think they are shooting for the moon; the rankings I think is but a mirror of our economic status as a nation and the way our political system goes. It goes beyond resources. Upliftment in our educational system should need a more systemized overhaul of our society and nation---plagued by corruption and improprieties.
Comment by Major Tom — April 24, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
CHED made the decision based an assumption and the immediate elimination of the cap is some kind of radical, irrational decision making. Can you imagine U.P. and the Country’s premier rated Educational Institutions can not even make it to the top 100s in Asia.
Education in my opinion is one institution that should not be run based on the business concept of Profit. Tuition and Students’ fees should only be a part of its revenue and the Government and the taxpayers should subsidized them. But in the case of the system in the Philippines where there are a mix of Public and Private Schools, this scenario is no longer applicable.
Secondary Education in our case is 100% publicly funded. It may be run by the Catholic Church, (the only one large school board we have here) but all its funding is from one source, the taxpayers, giving the parents the choice of sending their children to school of their choice and concience.
The same with University and colleges. They maybe run by the city, by the province or by the Federal government, but they are all open to all students thru entrance qualifying tests and all tuition are up to 60% subsidized by the Government and all other student's expenses can either be on their own or by available Student’s Loan with no interest charge until gainful employment.
And that put our Major Universities and Colleges, like the McGill University, University of Toronto, McMaster among the top 100s in the world.
And I agree about your idea of exempting the already enrolled students from the expected raise. We call that kind of exemption of the law, Grandfathering..
Comment by vic — April 25, 2007 @ 8:40 am
To vic: I see that concept as most ideal where quality in education is achieved primarily not by resources but by dedication and persistence. One could say our teachers are lowly paid that's why they aren't that dedicated but there is really no assurance that increase tuition fees would redound basically on increased salaries: I have conversed with some friends who are teachers who have resented how despite the high fees the school gets, they the teachers get merely a pittance. Teachers in high Universities like U.P. and Ateneo are known to have salaries far higher than the average in the industry and there should be no excuse or luckluster teaching.
Teaching is unique vocation---if onbe dop it primarily for money or profit; complete education does not happen; it becomes merelky perfunctory.
Teaching should be an form which the artist renders dedication and persistence, patience and craft.
Comment by Major Tom — April 25, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
bw commented on my site that the Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund is now a whopping 160 Billions. That is a contribution of both the Government and individual teacher and their funds were invested wisely. a noblest of all professions deserve the best compensations and pensions and every one benefits from it especially the Children
Comment by vic — April 25, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
This deregulation will soon create a cartel where schools will band together and pinch every centavo from the Filipino's pocket. Heartless, cold, just a few to describe what these people in government are. Why should they care about our children's future? They can easily send their kids to schools abroad. Its sad that the basic ingredient to a progressive society is beyond the reach of many.
Comment by Schumey — April 26, 2007 @ 1:04 am
Grabe talaga itong mga price increases. Ok lang sana kung kasabay ng price increase eh may katapat na salary increase.
Comment by ladybug — April 26, 2007 @ 2:05 am
To vic: I read about that over at your site and that's a good thing; If I have my way, we should introduce the concept of mtual funds to our teachers here and enjoy similar benefits.
To schumey: I like the way you describe education, as 'an ingredient to progress' and that's well-fitting. Anything that may jeopardize it should be taken cautiously and not haphazardly which I felt how the CHED acted when it suddenly took away the cap. It should have been a gradual or slow phasing out. We are talking about 'education' here and not some insignificant thing.
To ladybug: Mabuti kung ganun sana ladybug. That could be at least reasonable.
Comment by Major Tom — April 26, 2007 @ 9:43 am
It's like a train wreck really. When the front cars are derailed, the rest of the cars follow through.
The culprit is the oil prices. When it rises, the rest follow, including colleges and universities that have to pay more for utilities - water, power, phone, etc.. At some point they have to offset these costs to stay viable hence the tuition hike. A rich country like Canada can subsidize these costs with the schools just to alleviate the impact on the students. Unfortunately in Pinas, the tax revenue isn't even enough, let alone the corruption that further erodes the funds. Can't blame people feeling helpless with the situation.
Comment by bw — April 27, 2007 @ 12:34 am
In the midst of these increases, people suffer. They grow wary of the kind of government we have. And why not? Price are getting high and income is the same? How's that? Too much inequality. Nobody's happy with this. Gosh, my blood is boiling again. This is one reason I stop reading news from home. It's DEPRESSING.
OIL PRICE - Run by cartel, they can dictate price anytime. Scheming industry. Why, is it always hard to drill oil to have an increase? Some countries are producing billions of barrels a day. Some have clients buying at an exclusive number of years. Don't tell me they're going to increase the price to retailers within that agreed period of supply time. They're bleeding us to death with their price hike! Monopolists! Cartels! Scums!
CHED: I hope their theory is correct. How about those prestigious schools and parents who want their children schooled in such institution for prestige, etc. If I'm the owner of this school, I can increase school fees and brush any threat of parents tranferring their children to "less known" schools. I mean, my example is to this group of people who think that enrolling in prestigious schools would bring them all the hype.
Of course there are a few of them. In our country, the more exclusive they are, the higher the prestige...or so they think.
Our education system was one of the best decades ago. Now, even educators are disappointed. Yes, compare with our SEAsian neighbours, we pale in comparison. Just look at the studies. Our best is #72 somewhere there? Sad.
Yes, education for all! Sad but nowadays, it seems commercialised.
Comment by ipanema — April 27, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
To BW; That vicious cycle again that's coming in in order to put negativity into even the most sacred of social concern, like education for one. With our present economic setup, government subsidies to schools is almost unthinkable. But I think, lack of funds can be overcome if only the old form of educational prestige can be regained, that is, not merely for gain or profit, but as an inspired vocation. In our modernity sadly, that could be nearly utopic.
To Ipanema: That's the very term many activits call our education today, "commercialized" like some group of company pour their money and stocks and form a company educating students and then being concerned mostly of their dividends been coming these days, and how upward is the uptick in annual profits. It ain't ought to be that way.
Comment by Major Tom — April 27, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
the removal of the cap was sudden. for two years, ched defended its tuition regulation policy based on the prevailing inflation rate. why did ched remove the cap? school owners met PGMA at the Palace and lobbied for the removal of the cap. schools, especially the religious institutions, are powerful lobby groups.
Comment by mong — May 7, 2007 @ 11:06 am