The controversial ‘no late payment policy’ has not yet been rescinded by the administration of the University of the Philippines despite the criticisms the policy generated after the suicide of student Kristel Tejada last year.
Since the tuition in UP increased by 300 percent in 2007, the number of students applying for student loans have also dramatically increased. Recent data from the Office of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS) showed that 5,391 students applied for loans in UP Diliman alone during the second semester of school year 2013-2014.
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The only way [to improve the education system] is to have a higher budgetary allocation to education to solve shortages in classrooms, equipment and facilities and to increase the salaries of teachers. There is a need for a comprehensive professional development program for teachers to continuously equip them and further their knowledge and capacity to teach. “ – France Castro, Alliance of Concerned Teachers
“The rationalization that we need is a program that regularizes employees and hires more non-teaching personnel as support staff in schools.” – Manila Public School Teachers Association
At a time when the Aquino government is claiming to be instituting reforms in the education system, mainly through its K to 12 program for basic education, why is it that tertiary education seems to be getting farther from the reach of the poor majority?
Citing data from the Office of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS), the Office of the Student Regent revealed that 5,391 students applied for student loans in UP Diliman alone. As of last semester, the OSR said, 1,218 students were not able to pay their loans before the scheduled release of grades.
“While it is good that the bicameral committee averted the heftier cut earlier passed by the Lower House and was able to bring down the number of SUCs that will incur budget cuts for 2014 from 79 to the current 26, it is still deplorable to know that there are still schools that will suffer large cuts.” – Kabataan Party Rep. Terry Ridon
Despite getting the largest share of funds from the national budget of 2014, teachers say the budget for basic education in the Philippines is not even enough to supply a class with chalk that would last a school year.
Protesters carried giant satirized school logos, some of which read “Unibersidad ng Sobrang Tubo for UST (university of excessive profit), “Fastest Earning University for FEU and “Commission for Highly Expensive Education” (Ched).
“We cannot be complacent even if the suspension and dismissal orders were lifted and the collection of development fee was stopped. We are still watchful and we will not have second thoughts about walking out again to protest if the administration reneges on the agreement.” – Earist Institute of Student Government
“Although the tuition has not increased, with the additional fees being imposed other than the miscellaneous fees we pay every enrollment, studying even at PUP is becoming more expensive.”