MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has allowed 260 private schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) to raise their tuition in time for the opening of most private schools on June 10.

DepEd-NCR Director Luz Almeda said that out of the 2,118 private pre-elementary, elementary, and secondary schools in the region, 260 schools or 6% were permitted to raise their fees for school year 2013-2014, the Manila Times reported Monday, May 20.

At least 182 of the schools are pre-elementary and elementary schools, while 78 are high schools.

Almeda added that most of these schools requested an increase between 6 and 10%.

While private schools are not regulated by DepEd, the agency will still hold liable schools that do not follow the guidelines in tuition fee increases.

“We will not allow them to increase their tuitions as high as 20 percent. It should be between 5 to 10 percent,” she said.

In an interview with GMA News on Tuesday, May 21, Education Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali said the schools conducted consultations with parents before applying for the increase with DepEd.

He added that 70 percent of the increase should go to the teachers’ salaries, and 30 percent for the improvement of the school’s facilities and equipments.

If approved by DepEd, the school may allot 10 percent of the 30 percent as return on investment of the school owners, based on DepEd’s 2010 Manual of Regulations.

Umali noted that the number of schools approved by the DepEd to increase their tuition fees decreased this year in comparison to last year’s because not all schools would risk the dropping out of students who could not afford higher tuition fees. – Rappler.com