A. REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSULTATION

All post-secondary technical-vocational institutions intending to increase their tuition fee for the ensuing year shall conduct formal consultations, as herein defined and provided, with their student councils/governments and their faculty, alumni and/or non-teaching personnel associations.

In the absence of a student council/government, student organizations and societies recognized by the institution concerned shall select not more than ten (10) representatives who will participate in the consultation.

B. THE CONSULTATION PROCESS

For the purpose of these guidelines, consultation shall mean actual meetings and/or discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed increases in the tuition fees. Participants to these meetings shall be afforded the opportunity to express their views, sentiments, objections and the like, without fear, and under a free and candid atmosphere and in a straightforward manner.

The consultation process shall be initiated by the Heads of a concerned post-secondary technical-vocational institutions or their respective representatives. They shall inform the concerned TESDA Provincial Director in writing about consultation dates. The attendance of the concerned TESDA Provincial Director may be requested.

At least fifteen (15) days before the dates of consultations formal notices shall be sent to all concerned parties and posted conspicuously on the institution’s bulletin boards.

Various stakeholders may conduct consultations with their respective constituencies. In this regard, the latest audited financial statement of the concerned institution shall be made available to authorized parties upon formal request.

Consultations shall be completed not later than three (3) months preceding the actual school year that the intended increases shall take effect.

C. THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The following documents shall be submitted to the TESDA Provincial Office concerned on or before the first week of April of the school year the tuition fee increase shall take effect.

1. A Letter of Advice signed by the Head of the institution informing TESDA of its intention to increase tuition fees.
2. A Certified Intention to comply with the provision of RA 6728 prescribing that seventy percent (70%) of the proceeds to be derived from the tuition fee increases shall be used to upgrade the salaries, wages, allowances and other benefits of its teaching and non-teaching personnel and other staff, except those who are principal stockholders of the institution, including such increases as may have been provided for in the collective bargaining agreement, if any, existing or in force at the time of the effectivity of RA 6728.
3. A Certified Statement of Compliance with the above-cited provision of RA 6728 relative to proceeds derived from tuition fee increases for the current year. The said certificate shall likewise be posted on the institution’s bulletin boards and/or displayed in appropriate locations in the campus.
4. A comparative schedule of tuition and other fees for the current school year and the proposed increases in the ensuing school year, with the differences expressed both in money and percentage terms.
5. A certification signed by the Head of the Institution concerned declaring that appropriate consultation, as herein provided for, has been undertaken and satisfactorily completed.
6. The Head of the Institution shall indicate the conudct and results of such consultation, including objections and counter-proposals made, if any, by the student government/council, faculty association and other parties to the consultation.
7. A list of officers of its student government/council and/or in their absence, the duly recognized student organizations/societies with their corresponding officers.

D. NATIONAL MULTI-SECTORAL COMMITTEE TUITION FEE

The Secretariat shall organize and convene a national multi-sectoral committee on tuition fee, when the need arises. In doing so, the Secretariat shall invite representatives from all concerned sectors, including those from national faculty associations and national student organizations.

The National Multi-Sectoral Committee on Tuition Fee shall have the following functions:

1. To review, recommend and evaluate policies and guidelines on adjustments of tuition fees;
2. To conduct meetings, whenever necessary, with various stakeholders in technical vocational education and training; and
3. To exercise oversight responsibility over the regional multi-sectoral committees on tuition fee.
   

E. REGIONAL MULTI-SECTORAL COMMITTEES

The existing Regional Technical Education and Skills Development Committees shall convene as regional committees on tuition fee, whenever necessary. When convening as such, the RTESDC shall invite all concerned sectors to participate in its deliberations.
The duties of the regional multi-sectoral committees shall be the following:

1. Conduct meetings and dialogues with various concerned stakeholders, whenever necessary;
2. Exercise oversight responsibility over the provincial multi-sectoral committees;
3. Resolve problems pertaining to tuition fees elevated to it by the provincial committees; and
4. Perform other related functions which may be assigned by the national committee from time to time.

F. PROVINCIAL MULTI-SECTORAL COMMITTEES

The existing Provincial Technical Education and Skills Development Committees shall convene as provincial committees on tuition fee, whenever necessary. When convening as such, the PTESDC shall invite all concerned sectors to participate in its deliberations.

The duties of the provincial multi-sectoral committees shall be the following:

1. Monitor the implementation of these guidelines and furnish TESDA, through the TESDA Provincial Office, with a report on tuition fees not later than end of May of every calendar year;
2. Resolve disputes and/or complaints pertaining to increases in tuition fees;
3. In appropriate instances, elevate to the regional committee unresolved disputes on increases in tuition fees; and
4. Perform other related functions which may be assigned by the national committee from time to time.

G. TUITION FEE CHARGES FOR FRESHMEN

Tuition fees which may be charged to incoming freshmen shall be set by the institutions themselves on the basis of market factors. TUITION FEES FOR FRESHMEN ARE THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY THESE GUIDELINES. Concerned institutions shall, however, post schedule of tuition and other fees for incoming freshmen in conspicuous places in their premises on or before the end of February of the school year preceding the school year when the rates shall take effect.

H. SANCTIONS

In case of any violation of the provision of these guidelines, the concerned TESDA Provincial Office, in consultation with the Provincial Multi-Sectoral Committee on Tuition Fee shall recommend that the TESDA Regional office bar the institution from increasing its tuition fees or cancel its application for tuition fee increase without prejudice to the filing of administrative and criminal charges the institution and/or its responsible officers under existing laws.
Any institution which shall refuse to furnish copies of its audited financial statements as requested by the authorized parties in the process of consultation shall forfeit its right to increase tuition fees, in addition to other penalties or sanctions as may be imposed by the TESDA Regional Office, upon recommendation of the TESDA Provincial Office and the Provincial Multi-Sectoral Committee on Tuition Fee.

I. REPEALING CLAUSE

All other issuance or any part thereof which may be contrary to or in conflict with the provision of these guidelines are hereby repealed, revoked and superseded and/or amended accordingly.

J. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE

These guidelines shall take effect starting school year 1998-1999 and shall remain in force in subsequent school years unless revoked modified or amended.