Press Statement
March 21, 2013
Contact Person/s: Elmer Aresgado-09333574675
Commercialized, Privatized Education Drove Kristel to Hopelessness
The tragic end of Kristel Tejada, a 16 year old freshman student of the University of the Philippines-Manila, spotlights commercialization and privatization of education and the troubles these have brought to the Filipino youth today.
As the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND) together with students from different state and private universities and out-of-school youth’s grieves over her death it protests against policies that further privatize education.
It is enshrined in Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution that the state shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.
Tejada’s death opened doors to the sentiments among students and the entire academic community especially in the University of the Philippines (UP) -- it has put pressure to the UP administration to repeal its “no late payment policy” but this should not have been the case if the state university fulfilled its duty to provide education to the less privileged.
The small budget allocation for state colleges and universities shows that the state is reneging on this responsibility.
Tip of the Iceberg
Batas Pambansa Bilang 232 “Education Act of 1982 paved the way for the implementation of the neo-liberal policies in the education sector. The Long Term Higher Educational Development Plan (LTHEDP) under the Medium Term Development Program of the IMF-WB (International Monetary Fund-World Bank) that have been implemented from GMA’s time to the present targets the following: a. reduce by 20% the number of SUC’s b. convert six SUCs to semi corporations c. 50% SUCs must establish active income generating projects d. peg tuition rates in 70% SUCs similar to private universities and 60% of SUCs must collaborate with big businesses.
UP’s “no late payment policy” and the further rigidities of STFAP that begun in 1987 is only the tip of the iceberg.
Despite massive budget cuts, UP, under the "zero-based budgeting" approach where a previous year's assumptions are scrapped has to justify its expenditure of the meager P5.54 B it received out of an P18.4 budget proposal in 2012.
In 2007, UP implemented a 300% tuition fee increase immediately delimiting the number of poor enrolees. According to studies, 30% of the 9,000 UPCAT-NCR passers never showed up for enrolment due to financial incapacity. The STFAP (Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program) also affected UP’s student population reverting the 80% poor in 1975 to a current composition of 80% middle class and elite.
Clearly, this U.S.-formulated antidote dilutes the states’ role and hands over education in large chunks to the private sector.
There is Kristel in all of us
Statistics from the National Statistics Office (NSO) shows that among the 39 M 6 to 24 years old Filipinos, 6.24 M are considered out of school youth (OSY). The high cost of education prevents 2 out of 6 OSY from going to school.
Tejada’s case is not isolated. Among the hearts of the many underprivileged youth lay dreams to break the cycle of poverty though studies.
The University of the Philippines is the states’ premier university whose mandate is to provide education to poor but deserving students. Tejada’s death tells us otherwise. In a hard way we learned of the cold and ruthless system of Philippine education.
YND calls on the Filipino youth and the people to not put in waste the life of Kristel Tejada. She may have gone but let her life be a spark that could start change.
Her life and death should move everyone to put forward a pro-people, pro-student alternative in education.
Justice for Kristel Tejada!
Remove the STFAP bracket system!
Repeal the Admissions Process of UP System, Prioritize the Poor!
Do Away with the Neo-liberal Policies of globalization!
Push for a Scientific, Mass-oriented and Nationalist Education System!
March 21, 2013
Contact Person/s: Elmer Aresgado-09333574675
Commercialized, Privatized Education Drove Kristel to Hopelessness
The tragic end of Kristel Tejada, a 16 year old freshman student of the University of the Philippines-Manila, spotlights commercialization and privatization of education and the troubles these have brought to the Filipino youth today.
As the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND) together with students from different state and private universities and out-of-school youth’s grieves over her death it protests against policies that further privatize education.
It is enshrined in Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution that the state shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.
Tejada’s death opened doors to the sentiments among students and the entire academic community especially in the University of the Philippines (UP) -- it has put pressure to the UP administration to repeal its “no late payment policy” but this should not have been the case if the state university fulfilled its duty to provide education to the less privileged.
The small budget allocation for state colleges and universities shows that the state is reneging on this responsibility.
Tip of the Iceberg
Batas Pambansa Bilang 232 “Education Act of 1982 paved the way for the implementation of the neo-liberal policies in the education sector. The Long Term Higher Educational Development Plan (LTHEDP) under the Medium Term Development Program of the IMF-WB (International Monetary Fund-World Bank) that have been implemented from GMA’s time to the present targets the following: a. reduce by 20% the number of SUC’s b. convert six SUCs to semi corporations c. 50% SUCs must establish active income generating projects d. peg tuition rates in 70% SUCs similar to private universities and 60% of SUCs must collaborate with big businesses.
UP’s “no late payment policy” and the further rigidities of STFAP that begun in 1987 is only the tip of the iceberg.
Despite massive budget cuts, UP, under the "zero-based budgeting" approach where a previous year's assumptions are scrapped has to justify its expenditure of the meager P5.54 B it received out of an P18.4 budget proposal in 2012.
In 2007, UP implemented a 300% tuition fee increase immediately delimiting the number of poor enrolees. According to studies, 30% of the 9,000 UPCAT-NCR passers never showed up for enrolment due to financial incapacity. The STFAP (Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program) also affected UP’s student population reverting the 80% poor in 1975 to a current composition of 80% middle class and elite.
Clearly, this U.S.-formulated antidote dilutes the states’ role and hands over education in large chunks to the private sector.
There is Kristel in all of us
Statistics from the National Statistics Office (NSO) shows that among the 39 M 6 to 24 years old Filipinos, 6.24 M are considered out of school youth (OSY). The high cost of education prevents 2 out of 6 OSY from going to school.
Tejada’s case is not isolated. Among the hearts of the many underprivileged youth lay dreams to break the cycle of poverty though studies.
The University of the Philippines is the states’ premier university whose mandate is to provide education to poor but deserving students. Tejada’s death tells us otherwise. In a hard way we learned of the cold and ruthless system of Philippine education.
YND calls on the Filipino youth and the people to not put in waste the life of Kristel Tejada. She may have gone but let her life be a spark that could start change.
Her life and death should move everyone to put forward a pro-people, pro-student alternative in education.
Justice for Kristel Tejada!
Remove the STFAP bracket system!
Repeal the Admissions Process of UP System, Prioritize the Poor!
Do Away with the Neo-liberal Policies of globalization!
Push for a Scientific, Mass-oriented and Nationalist Education System!