TUITION INCREASES are nothing new in the Loyola Schools.

For the past years, the tuition increase ranged from 7% in school year 2006 to 2007 to 4% this school year. However, despite the regularity of the tuition hikes, many students are still unaware of the reasons behind these hikes.

Loyola Schools (LS) Vice President (VP) John Paul Vergara said that the tuition increase for the coming school year is once again pegged at 5%. According to Vergara, last year’s 4% increase was barely enough to cover the school’s expenses.

Tuition increase concerns, as well as administration updates were discussed during the Magtanong sa VP at mga Dekano forum held last February 4 at the Ching Tan room.

The forum featured the VP for LS, the four deans of the Loyola Schools, as well as other administrators.

During the forum, the proposed budget for the next school year was discussed. Also presented were the specifics of the budget allocation.The annual forum also gave students the chance to air their concerns and queries.

Where does it go?

In the said forum, Vergara clarified that the annual tuition free increase is necessary to shoulder the increasing school expenses. He said that the largest chunk of the tuition fee goes primarily to the salaries and benefits of the faculty and staff.

The tuition increase also contributes to the scholarships and financial grants that the school gives to the deserving but underprivileged students.

The remaining budget covers campus renovations, as well as the purchase of new facilities.

During the open forum, students raised issues such as on-the-job training fees, the Ateneo Integrated Student Information System and the athletics fee, among others. The questions raised during this year’s forum had been raised in years past.

In the forum, it was clarified that the athletics fee covers the salaries of most of the team coaches, except basketball. According to College Athletics Office Coordinator Bejamin Afuang, the fee is also used to provide the different teams with uniforms and facilities.

Unaware and uninformed

Outgoing Sanggunian Finance Officer Reg Guevara said that although similar questions were raised before, it does not mean that they were not addressed by the school. She added that this is a matter of streamlining information dissemination between the administration and students.

“[We] already talked to VP Vergara to have a feedback system for student input to the [administration],” said Guevara.

Although the tuition increase is explained, many students are unaware of these explanations.

Junior Maria Therese Cañeda said that not all students can afford to pay for these increases. “The fact that we are responsible for our athletics association without us actually knowing is ridiculous. And sure, new buildings and institutions are arising but nevertheless, there should still be a point where enough is enough,” she said.

Meanwhile, junior Danilo Villarey said that while tuition increase is inevitable for universities, but it would be more acceptable to the students if the money was allotted to practical needs.

For scholar Gian Karlo Dapul, instead of spending on renovations, Chemistry facilities and funding for research should be prioritized.

However, some students still believe that the administration should be more transparent when it comes to stating the budget allocation. “There has to be more transparency as to what the school is constantly spending on,” said Senior Jame Hurby Say.

Finding solutions

Sanggunian President Rob Roque said that the tuition increase is justified by the budget representatives and administration.

He also added that they have come up with ways on how students could submit their concerns at the department level.

“The information, however, can be better disseminated, not simply to inform [students] but… to elicit [more] critical responses and [to enable them to] participate more deeply in university governance,” he said.

Roque said that the Sanggunian will also release primers on the tuition hikes.

“The Office of the Finance Officer is preparing a tuition primer to explain all these to students before they pay for their tuition,” he said.

Guevara said this tuition manual is for all LS students and contains answers to frequently asked questions.