Thursday, 19 June 2008
-
CEGP Protests against TOFI on Independence Day
Press Release
June 12, 2008Students cry freedom from TOFI, econ crises on Independence Day
DAVAO CITY–Students from various schools here commemorate the Philippines’ 110th Independence Day via street protest against the continued bondage of the Filipino youth to the a commercialized, colonial and repressive education system in the country and freedom economic crises.
This as the group claimed that in this school year’s opening colleges and universities have increased their tuition and other fees with an average of around 10%.
“Private colleges here have increased tuition ranging from 6% to 17.5%, while in State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) up to 300%. These translates to Php 302 in private or Php 150 in state-owned colleges as lowest rate in tuition per unit and Php 730 in private or Php 600 in state-owned colleges as the highest rate,” said Leigh Dalugdog i.defy convenor and Vice President for Mindanao of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)
In the said street protest infront of the University of Mindanao—Bolton campus, students expressed dismay over of rising cost of education and the crises in rice, oil and the economy as a whole.
“It is unfair that the educator capitalists have their own share of what they call ‘freedom’ by capitalizing on annual increases in tuition and miscellaneous fees,” Dalugdog said.
“This day, the students will not celebrate the commemoration of our independence day but rather go to the streets and wage a protest against the dependence of the Arroyo administration to the demands of these educator capitalists. We demand for freedom from oppressive increases in tuition and other fees.” Dalugdog added.
Dalugdog said the youth’s long standing call to stop tuition and other fees must be heeded by school administrators not because Malacañang is calling for it, but because it’s the demand of the students and the people specially now the economic crisis is worsening.
“We want real liberation, that’s why we should stand together and fight against tuition and other fees increase (TOFI) and call for Mrs. Arroyo to step down for failing to address and fulfill her promises to the youth,” said Karlos Manlupig, i.defy convenor and ANAKBAYAN Southern Mindanao Regional spokesperson. Manlupig added that this protest is only the start of the series of protest that the youth and students will initiate in an effort to expose and oppose the worsening crisis not only in education but in the economy as well.
The street protest is led by i.defy, an alliance of youth and students initiated by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) to expose and oppose attacks against the basic rights and welfare of youth and students and the Filipino people.
The alliance said that an allowance of one hundred pesos a day for a college student is not enough for the everyday expenses given that increases in tuition and other school fees have already occured. The alliance is alarmed at the rate of students being enrolled in the tertiary level. “Chances of getting college education among the youth is getting lower because of the high cost. Filipino youth have rather opted to work in call centers or end up in anti-social activities rather than go to school,” Manlupig said.
“TOFI should be scrapped and be refunded in private Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) as well as State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) and put an end to the rotten system of education that we have in the Philippines,” Dalugdog said.###
For Reference:
Nisa Opalla
Spokesperson, i.defy: youth and students alliance
Davao City Chairperson, College Editors Guild of the Philippines
+639109136556
-
recommend
- recs 0
-
share
-
email
- sent 0
Post a Comment