ABOUT 30 students of the University of San Carlos lighted a candles outside the gates of USC Talamban campus to protest its plan to increase its tuition by 7 percent for the school year 2010-1011.

?This protest is a prayer to refute the tuition fee increase,? said Nathan Archival, Student Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Stand), one of the organizers that showed the protest action.

The USC wants to increase tuition to raise the salary of teachers. But Archival said the university's responsibility to increase the teachers? salary should not be passed on to students.

?They should integrate income generating projects to handle this responsibility,? said Archival.

These include seeking donations from its alumni and organize grants from foundations.

At least 15 universities and colleges in Central Visayas have asked the Commission on Higher Education to approve their application to raise tuition this coming school year.

In Cebu, Asian College of Technology, Benedicto College, Cebu Institute of Technology, St. Louise De Marillac College in Bogo City, St. Theresa?s College, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines, and Velez College have submitted their applications for a tuition hike for the academic year 2010-2011.

In Bohol, Blessed Trinity College in Talibon, Bohol Wisdom School, Holy Name University, and Trinidad College also asked for tuition increase. Two other schools in Negros Oriental; Diaz College and St. Paul?s University also sought for CHEd?s approval for the increase.

Dr. Candelario Aytona, CHEd assistant director for Central Visayas, said they would still study the applications.

?There is a probability that the percent increase in tuition applied for by a school would not be followed. These could even be lowered,? said Aytona. With reports from Ma. Bernadette A. Parco and Fe Marie D. Dumaboc