ENGINEERING students of the University of the East-Caloocan asked the Commission on Higher Education to investigate the excessive fees the university allegedly imposed despite the implementation of distance learning.

In a letter to CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III, UE-Caloocan Engineering Student Council sought the commission’s help in urging the university to refund and waive all ‘unused fees’ for Academic Year 2020-2021.

“To CHED, we implore your good office to take action and not just merely ask the University to respond. Our institution has proven that it gives little weight, if not none at all, to the demands of the students,” the council said.

“It should be reiterated that we believe that the autonomous nature of the university is not superior to the mandate of your institution. We plead with you to give immediate attention to our calls and grace us with your most anticipated response,” it added.

ENSC said that UE reduced laboratory fees by only 10 percent and it still collects over P7,000 for miscellaneous fees.

“UE President Ester Garcia’s claim that some laboratory fees had been reduced 90 percent of the regular or face-to-face classes is grossly misleading. Miscellaneous fees are still unreasonably high, and again, not practically usable in the current setup. There have also been no cases of waived lab deposits, leading the Council to believe that this particular claim is an unequivocal falsehood,” it said.

The group lamented that the additional expenses brought by distance learning added to the financial blow to the students and their families.

“We express our utmost disapproval against unnecessary laboratory and other fees imposed given the mode of learning. Such fees are without a clear, justifiable basis, and the administration must be held accountable for the same by your office,” it added.