Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Term Paper
Submitted by
Summer, 2021
Definition of terms:
References:
The Cost of Education in the Philippines (smartparenting.com.ph)
Cost of Education in the Philippines Preschool to College (smartparenting.com.ph)
Educational costs Definition | Law Insider
Tuition Fee Guide: 2019 Cost Of College Education In The Philippines (ecomparemo.com)
Addressing the rising cost of college education in the Philippines (Charland, Philstar, 2018)
LIST: Universities and colleges with free tuition starting 2018 (CNN Philippines, 2018)
DepEd: Over 250-K students transferred from private schools to public schools (Inquirer.net,
2020)
UP and Ateneo Continue to Lead Philippine Universities at World University Rankings (Chua,
Esquire, 2020)
San Beda College granted university status (Guno, Inquirer, 2018)
54,761 private school students benefit from Bayanihan 2 subsidy (CHED, 2021)
INTRODUCTION
There’s nothing more important to parents than securing their children’s future. That’s why
investing in good education has always been their top priority. Why wouldn’t they? Not only will
education enrich your child’s mind, but it also opens doors of opportunities for their personal
growth.
Education is one of the most powerful tools in the world, and children who receive the best
education possible often go on to improve the world for themselves and others.
If you are a parent, a would-be parent, or planning to become a parent, you are aware of the
specific responsibilities that come with the role. And many parents in the Philippines rise to the
occasion by enrolling their children in private schools.
When it comes to private schooling for their child, parents have a number of options. While
public education is not inherently less competitive, private education provides students with a
more personalized learning experience.
You might think that tuition fees in the Philippines have become lower because students don’t go
to school physically and are instead taking distance learning or online learning classes at home
during the pandemic. However, this is not the case for most schools because other facilities like
internet connection and equipment need to be provided and upgraded to facilitate online classes.
As we all look forward to the reopening of classrooms for face-to-face instructions, ask yourself:
How much do I really need to prepare for my child’s education?
DISCUSSIONS
Grade school in the Philippines starts from Preschool level to Grade 6. Depending on the
school’s location and facilities, you may need to prepare at least PHP 25,000 for school fees
alone. Some other fees may include books, uniforms, laboratory, and miscellaneous fees, which
will raise the school’s monthly charges. Which you pay PHP 50,000 annually or PHP 5000
monthly.
High School and Senior High School: PHP 40,000 – PHP 150,000
On average, here’s a breakdown of expenses for private schooling.
HIGH SCHOOL AND SENIOR HIGH
SCHOOL PHP 40 000 - PHP 150 000
EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES AVERAGE COST
Tuition PHP 40 000
Books PHP 15 000
Laboratory Fee PHP 7 000
Uniform PHP 5 000
Miscellaneous PHP 10 000
TOTAL PHP 77 000 annually or 8 000 monthly
The K-12 education system added two more years at the high school level for both private and
public schools. On average, tuition fees in the Philippines for high school students starts from
PHP 40,000. Compared to grade school, high school education covers more subjects, more
books, and more requirements that aim to develop the student’s mastery of knowledge and skills.
Which you pay PHP 77,000 annually or PHP 8,000 monthly.
College Level: PHP 70,000 to PHP 250,000
College is probably the most difficult stage for parents, both financially and emotionally. Aside
from your child’s education fund getting more expensive, completing a four-year or five-year
course can become more difficult for the child.
To help you better understand how much you need to save for your child’s education, here are
the tuition fees in some of the top universities in the Philippines
250,000.00
200,000.00
150,000.00
100,000.00
50,000.00
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Ateneo offers elementary, high school, college, and graduate education. The university offers
competitive programs in sciences, liberal arts, law, management, and engineering.
Based on its website, ADMU charges the following fees for the School Year 2021:
Tuition – PHP 92,064
Basic fees – PHP 12,385.45
Other fees – PHP 3,750
Take note that tuition fees in the Philippines vary depending on your child’s program of study.
Additional fees may also be charged aside from the ones mentioned above.
De La Salle University or DLSU offers courses in communication, sciences, engineering,
business, and technologies. The university has three terms, with each term costing an average of
PHP 70,000 to PHP 90,000+.
The basic tuition fee charged per unit is PHP 3,604. If your child takes 25 units in one semester,
then you need to pay a PHP 90,100 average tuition fee alone. Other fees at DLSU include
student orientation for PHP 992, a library for PHP 1,453, and a registration fee of PHP 872,
among others.
UP Diliman has over 20,000 students and houses the greatest number of CHED Center of
Excellence in the country. Journalism, computer engineering, philosophy, anthropology, and
creative writing are just some of the many courses offered by this university.
Under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act 10931), UP is
among the state universities with a full tuition subsidy for students. This means free tuition for
qualified UP students.
Labeled as the oldest university in Asia, UST has nine colleges and offers courses in
architecture, physical therapy, journalism, among others. It has Php 1000,000 to Php 150,000
annual cost of tuition.
One of Cebu’s largest universities, the University of San Carlos has the most CHED Center of
Excellence in the Vis-Min area. It offers programs in education, physics, engineering, and
anthropology. Its annual cost of tuition ranges Php 75,000 to Php 100,000
UA&P offers courses in economics, humanities, management, and information technology. It’s
annual cost of tuition ranging Php 180,000 to 190,000. The institution also has an international
student exchange program, with partner schools in Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific.
Siliman has the greatest number of accredited programs in the country. Founded in 1901, the
university has degree programs in information and technology, nursing, biology, and marine
science. The annual cost of tuition Php 180,000 to 190,000.
Founded in 1901, San Beda has campuses in Manila, Alabang, and Rizal. CHED also granted the
institution university status in 2018. The annual cost of tuition ranging Php 180,000 to Php
300,000. San Beda offers courses in accountancy, marketing, economics, and law.
Mapua University is known for its engineering and architecture programs. Eight of the
university’s programs are recognized as a CHED Center of Excellence. Mapua has campuses in
Intramuros and Makati, and with four terms per year, with each term costing an averaging of
PHP 51,000.
CSB was founded in the 80s as a night school, but today it offers various courses in the fields of
arts and design, international studies, and hotel and management. The school has three terms,
with each term costing an average of PHP 105,000.
Before you compute the amount to save for your child’s education, consider the things that have
an impact on the future cost of education.
Another option is a state university or college covered by the free tuition law (Republic Act
10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act). Qualified students in premier
state universities like UP and PUP no longer pay for tuition, miscellaneous fees, and other school
fees starting in the academic year 2018-2019.
However, the free tuition law has numerous conditions and restrictions, so you don’t know for
sure if your child will qualify for it. Also, it isn’t certain if this law will still be implemented by
the time your child enters college.
The estimated total cost of education is over PHP 2 million, which will be your target amount to
save for your child’s tuition. The actual cost may be higher or lower depending on your target
school, the tuition cost, and how long you’ll save up for it.
You might be overwhelmed by the numbers provided above but that doesn’t mean you can’t do
anything to reduce what you’re supposed to pay. Your child’s education is precious, and you can
do a lot of things to ease the financial burden.
STRENGTHS
Increase in tuition fees allow colleges to remain competitive in the industry. Some schools use
funds to upgrade technology like computers, technical equipment, Internet services, and
classroom visual aids. Others spend the funds to hire qualified, experienced teachers, instructors,
and support personnel. Furthermore, it assists schools in maintaining their facilities, making
repairs, constructing sports arenas, conducting research, and upgrading classrooms and academic
laboratories. According to Forbes, modern facilities attract more students and provide schools
with a competitive advantage.
WEAKNESSES
On the other hand, increase in tuition can cause financial stress for students with limited
resources. Students frequently base their budgets on current tuition costs and are unprepared for
rising costs. They may not be eligible for additional college loans or loan amounts that are larger
to cover tuition increases. Even when tuition costs rise, many scholarships remain unchanged. To
cover rising costs, students may need to apply for additional financial aid, federal grants, school-
issued grants, and scholarships.
Unexpected tuition costs may force some students to settle for undergraduate degrees, even if
they had intended to pursue advanced degrees. Others may choose to attend community colleges
rather than four-year bachelor's degree programs. Some students will be discouraged from
completing their college coursework due to rising costs. They may have to work for months or
years to save up for rising tuition costs, postponing long-term postgraduate career opportunities.
REFLECTIONS
Every year, many young people work hard to pass their high school diplomas and get into
college. However, for many of them, getting good grades isn't their only concern. Unlike the
fortunate minority from wealthy families, they must also consider how they will pay for their
education.
The government claims that free education is impossible because there are no budget funds
available to subsidize universities and colleges. Furthermore, when education is fully funded by
the state, colleges lose their independence as well as the spirit of democracy and freedom. They
also believe that students have numerous options for obtaining the funds they require. If they are
exceptionally gifted, they may be eligible for a scholarship. They can work while attending
university. They can also take out a bank loan, which they will repay once they begin working.
Despite the numerous options, the cost of education is still prohibitively expensive for many
students. Scholarships are unlikely to cover the entire cost, and students who are successful in
obtaining one must still work to support themselves. Earning enough money to pay for your
college education is nearly impossible with a part-time job, and working full-time leaves students
with no time to study, resulting in money being wasted. And a bank loan is so large that students
must repay it over a long period of time.
In order to help secure a child’s future by providing education, devise and begin as early as
possible a savings strategy that will not jeopardize your finances. You can also invest your
money to earn a profit. A loan may also be beneficial. However, make certain that the
repayments will not bankrupt you.