College students challenge ‘mandatory’ P8K off-campus activity fee
Nearly 10 students have filed a formal complaint with the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) against Mary the Queen College of Quezon City over a mandatory off-campus activity fee of P8,000.
The student complainants submitted a letter to CHEd challenging a school directive that requires students who missed a previous educational trip to pay P8,000 for a “Parallel Academic Activity” scheduled in Pampanga.
According to the complaint, the requirement violates CHEd Memorandum Order No. 63, Series of 2017, which regulates local off-campus activities.
The students contend the mandate imposes an exorbitant financial burden and ties payment of the fee to academic clearance for final examinations.
Under School Memorandum No. 10-14, Series of 2026, issued 14 October, students were instructed to pay the P8,000 fee at the school cashier.
Internal documentation indicates the fee covers venue rentals, meals, speakers, team-building activities, bus rentals, logistics and certificates.
A student complainant speaking on condition of anonymity stated Wednesday that the primary off-campus tour conducted last month cost P12,600. Students who opted out of the main trip were subsequently instructed to complete the P8,000 parallel activity as a mandatory alternative.
“The primary local education tour has already taken place, yet students who stayed behind are still being forced to settle this exorbitant P8,000 fee for the parallel activity just to get regular academic clearance for their upcoming final exams,” the students stated in a separate petition sent to the school’s Office of Student Affairs and Services on 22 October.
In response to inquiries, administrative personnel at Mary the Queen College, located in Barangay Matandang Balara, stated that the institution responded to CHEd within 24 hours of receiving notice.
School representatives maintained that the parallel activity remained a proposal pending final approval and had not yet been formally implemented.
However, the institution published an announcement on its official social media page Monday rescheduling the Pampanga activity from 27 October to 6 November.
The school stated the postponement was intended to provide families additional time to complete necessary arrangements and payments.