ATENEO de Davao University (AdDU) has opted to discontinue its planned increase in tuition and fees for the school year (SY) 2020-2021.
University president father Joel E. Tabora, in a post on his blog, taborasj.wordpress.com, on March 14, said before the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, Addu's Board of Trustees (BOT) approved to increase the university's tuition and fees from six to ten percent for SY 2020-2021 in tuition and fees.
"Our Board of Trustees met online in order to help our parents. They resolved, first, to revise the budget to cancel the increases in tuition and fees," Tabora said.
He added that instead of increasing the tuition and fees for the incoming school year and gearing towards a shift to online learning, the BOT resolved to allow the "management, depending on the needs of the units, to discount fees from 15 percent to 23 percent."
"Without the scheduled increases in tuition and fees, this means that parents would be paying from 21 percent to up to 33 percent less than what Addu had planned to charge for this academic year," Tabora said.
This means that parents enrolling their children in grade school and high school can expect discounts ranging from P13,000 to nearly P19,000. For example, the originally approved tuition and fees for Grade 7 are at 97,677.30. With the discount the university is implementing, the newly approved tuition and fees for Grade 7 at Addu are now at P78,728.30, a 19 percent discount from what was initially approved.
"It may be appreciated that in order to further help our parents who may need this, the enrollment of students or learners at Ateneo de Davao this year can succeed on as low as ten percent down payment of assessed tuition and fees, with the balance payable before the final summative exam for the enrolled course," Tabora said.
He added that "the final exam can be taken at the end of the course, or postponed to up to one year after the end of the course."
"We offer these substantial reductions to you in partnership. We value your valuing education for your children even in a crisis such as this," Tabora said.
The university has also implemented online payment options for the parents who will be enrolling their students in the school. It also set up a drive-through payment option where parents can pay the university in cash.
Online classes
Meanwhile, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the university has already shifted to online classes. Their shift to online classes began on April 22, with 1,722 students enrolled in 178 classes involving 90 instructors.
"As a result of our dialogue with our students, home prepaid WiFi devices of Globe and Smart were distributed despite the enhanced community quarantine to each of the students. Apple iPADs, solicited from donors, were loaned to scholars and financially challenged students. Computer loans were extended to students," Tabora said.
While the move to go online has been praised and supported by some government bodies, some are still having second thoughts about the sudden shift from physical classes.
Mina Pelayo, a parent, said she is not against online classes but what has worried her is the content and relevance of what the professors are giving to the students.
"My concern lang is sana the quality of education that Ateneo has been known for will not depreciate. Though online classes are being adapted, the university president must ensure that students are getting and learning the knowledge and skills that every student must get from their selected course," she stated.
Mariah Shane Ng, an incoming third-year BS Industrial Engineering student, says that this online class will be a great challenge for her, especially she has to take her major subjects, which need an actual application, through digital platforms.
"As an engineering student, I am not favorable gyud sa pag shift to virtual learning, masking kanus-a pana magstart. Lisod man gyud tun-an ang mga major subjects namo especially those subjects na need gyud ug actual application such ug laboratory subject, pero then again, wala tay choice, this is for our safety man pud (I am not in favor of virtual learning considering that there are some major subjects that need to be taught with an actual application. However, we have no choice, this is also for our safety)," she said.
While some parents and students acknowledged the bold decision of the university, there are also parents and students that have reasons on why online classes in June must be postponed to August.
"If online classes will be pushed through this June, it will be ineffective for students who cannot afford monthly payment of WiFi or even a prepaid load. We are also facing a global crisis and paying even a small amount of tuition is not the topmost priority of the students' families. The majority of them are unemployed because of the pandemic. Education is not the primary concern now, its safety and survival," Sheena Allison Dela Salde, a third-year student, said.
Juan Paolo Miles, an incoming second-year student also stated that, for him, the struggle of some students in participating in this online-based learning is not just restricted to the lack of fast internet connection and electronic devices; the idea of having online classes itself, is the problem.
"I have classmates who are really struggling to find a good source of mobile network in their respective provinces. They are forced to go outside, to internet shops, risking their health, giving a part of their budget for food and resources, just to participate in the online summer classes and to receive announcements regarding the ever-changing schedules," he added.
Despite the concerns regarding the resumption of classes, the enrollment is currently ongoing and will end on June 27.
The shift to online classes, however, does not necessarily mean the revert to face to face classes will be abandoned.
"In all this, we are not saying we do not value traditional face-to-face instruction. We do. We value deeply how learning is especially in Philippine culture encouraged by healthy socialization. When the pandemic is overcome, we will go back to them," Fr. Tabora, said.
Classes for the academic year 2020-2021 is scheduled to commence on June 22, 2020. (Hannah Fay Morimoto, Kevin Cody Mahinay, and Alexandra Janika Reyes -- Ateneo de Davao Interns)