The Consejo Nacional de Dueños de Colegios which groups 600 private schools in the DR called the new bill that would regulate the right of schools to increase tuition as arbitrary, unfair and in violation of the Constitution. Congress passed the bill and President Mejía has said he will sign it converting it into law upon his return from Guatemala. The bill would not have an effect on this year’s tuition. According to news reports the bill establishes a freeze on school rates for the next three years. Private schools say that would be fine if the government had also put a freeze on their costs or would grant them subsidies. They say they have to meet increasing cost of interest payments on bank loans, energy bills, telephone bills, as well as annual teacher wage raises. They explain their businesses are no different from other businesses that also need to raise their prices. The bill establishes that a Consejo Nacional de Educación will group schools by categories taking into account physical facilities, educational level of the teachers and other factors. The Consejo says they will take the case to the Supreme Court of Justice. The National Council of Business (CONEP) opposes the bill.
