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The siren song of call centers and other businesses which hire college-level applicants proved too enticing for students whose parents were laid off or faced financial problems due to the global economic crisis.
The Commission on Higher Education in Central Visayas (Ched-7) estimated a five to 10 percent reduction in the number of enrollees in colleges and universities in Central Visayas for this school year.
Acting Ched-7 Chief Candelario Aytona said while they have yet to finalize data from the schools on their enrollees, their initial findings showed that many college students opted to work rather than return to school in order to help their families.
?These students and their parents had agreed to let the crisis pass before they continue their college degrees,? Aytona said in Cebuano.
Geraldine Bacquial used to be a secretarial student in Bohol province and was supposed to enter her second year in college.
But with her parents out of work, she considered herself fortunate to land a job as a cashier in a gasoline station in Cebu City.
?I studied in a public college with an inexpensive course but my parents still can?t afford it since there are three of us studying. I decided to help them instead of finishing my course,? Bacquial explained.
Aside from the declining number of college students, Ched also noticed a drop in the number of students in public colleges.
Talisay City College saw its enrollment jump from 1,000 students last year to 1,500 students this year.
Aytona said most of the enrollees transferred from private schools since parents wanted to pay lower tuition.
