Iskolar ng Bayan pa ba sila?

Source: philstar.com
Kristel Tejada, a freshman Behavioral Science student of the University of the Philippines Manila, took her life on March 15, Friday due to "no late payment" policy imposed by the university since last year.

She's just another victim of UP's current repressive policies.

Isn't it ironic how one of the potential bright minds in the country can't continue her education in this University just because her family could not financially sustain her education?

Back when I entered the University, as one of the first batch of students who will be affected by TOFI (Tuition and Other Fee Increases) and the revised STFAP, the parents of my fellow students immediately felt the additional burden they had to carry with the higher tuition fee. Protests from militants were everywhere, chanting "Tuition fee increase na naman?! Salot talaga, salot, kasalut-salutan!" and "'Wag kaming lokohin, kami ay pag-aralin!"

Now these protest may get even louder with her death.

According to UP student regent Cleve Arguelles, it even came to a point when her mother knelt before UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agulto to personally appeal their situation. Besides appealing for late payment, she also tried to apply for a loan, sought installment payments, and promissory notes. All of these were denied by the administration.

“Kristel is just one of the hundreds and thousands of UP and Filipino students who are pushed against the wall by the high cost of education and the Aquino administration’s abandonment of Philippine education,” UP Manila student council chair Mariz Zubiri said on the Philippine Star.

I felt a sense of guilt upon her death. It goes to say things aren't fair in the University nowadays, and that applies to other State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) too. Fair education should be imposed in the country if we should prevent cases like this to happen again.

Sayang ang galing at talino ng isang taga-UP, kung ito ang magiging kahihinatnan. We can't blame this girl to enter UP; it's a privilege for every student to be able to enter this institution. Passing the UPCAT is no laughing matter, but staying there is another matter altogether.

Ganyan na ba talaga ang kalakaran sa Unibersidad? Nakakalungkot na may kumitil na ng buhay nang dahil sa pangigipit. This I hope that the talking heads in this institution open their hearts and minds to see what is indeed wrong with our country's education system. May this story slam the faces of those who thought taking away government subsidy would help SUCs in sustaining their bright minds.

Iskolar ng Bayan pa ba sila? 

KENNETH

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