The difficulties faced by students in enrolling at the University of the Philippines (UP) are legendary and is the stuff that welcomes freshmen to the university. But now, enrollment would not be the biggest obstacle in entering UP after passing the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT), it is the high cost of tuition.
BY REYNA MAE TABBADA
Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 18, June 10-16, 2007
Reading clues, enduring long lines, and running from one place to another to be able to complete a series of tasks in a given period of time against fellow competitors – this is not a scene in the popular reality television show Amazing Race but as daunting a race against time and other competitors nevertheless, the enrollment in the University of the Philippines (UP). The difficulties faced by students in enrolling at UP are legendary and is the stuff that welcomes freshmen to the university. But now, enrollment would not be the biggest obstacle in entering UP after passing the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT), it is the high cost of tuition, especially with the 300 percent increase in tuition which takes effect this semester.
The dream of entering the premier state university in the country would now be unreachable for poor but deserving students from far-flung barrios in the Philippines. UP Student Regent Terry Ridon related a story of an incoming freshman whose parents he encountered while applying for a tuition discount under the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP). The student was the first child of the family from a far-flung barrio in Leyte who was able to qualify for the state university. If his application would not be approved, he may never be a UP student as the family could not afford the tuition in addition to the high cost of supporting a child studying in the National Capital Region.
“It is clear that the democratic access to education of the sons and daughters of Filipino families are sacrificed,” said Ridon in an interview with Bulatlat. He reached this conclusion after talking with families of freshmen students on the repercussions of the tuition increase.
Tell-tale signs
Even with the raw data gathered through informal conversations in registration lines, the tell-tale signs of the negative impact of the tuition increase are already apparent.
With the help of University Student Councils (USCs) from different UP units, the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) is able to collate statistics to measure the impact of the increase in the freshmen enrollment. One of the cases that Ridon cited concerns the Los Baños campus, where one third of first qualifiers did not show up to confirm that they would enroll. This does not include yet those who confirmed but would not show up during enrollment.
“With 1,500 new students accepted every year, that figure is equal to 500 persons who are deserving of the education that UP can offer. But because of financial constraints, they will not be able to avail of this privilege,” Ridon explained.
Another unit that posted a double figure for UP College Admissions Test (UPCAT) passers but reported a significant number of “no show” (first qualifiers who did not confirm attendance) is Baguio. Ridon pegged the number to be around 20 to 40 percent.
However, these numbers are not far from the study done under then UP President Francisco Nemenzo’s President’s Advisory Committee (PAC).
“My projection back when I was Faculty Regent is coming true: UPCAT passers from the lower-income brackets would not be enrolling. This is not surprising since even with the old tuition fee scheme, almost 30 percent of passers do not show up for enrollment,” shared Roland Simbulan.
But what happened to the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP), which ToFI apologists claim to be the scheme that would accommodate students from low-income brackets?
Ridon lamented that the officials who approved the increase is not thoroughly prepared to accommodate the expected increase in STFAP applicants. Worse, there is still no clear indication of how they will solve the long lines at the Student Affairs office, where families are hoping to avail of tuition discounts through the program.
Bulatlat published an earlier story about the difficulties of being approved for a lower bracket in the STFAP. (link – ‘How can students like us cope?’ – UP Grad Vol. VI, No. 38 Oct. 29 – Nov. 4, 2006)
“It is clear that the U.P. administration is in a state-of-denial about the effects of the tuition increase,” Ridon concluded.
Negative impetus
However, it is not only UP students who are suffering.
“The 300 percent tuition increase in UP opened a groundswell of increases in other academic institutions,” observed Simbulan. He shared that private schools are using UP as an example to rationalize their own increases.
“Kung nagawa nga ng UP, na state university, bakit hindi kami pwede (If UP, which is a state university, was able to do it, why can’t we),” Simbulan said, quoting the justification of owners of private tertiary institutions.
Ridon echoed the same view. He also added that even some state colleges and universities (SCUs) are pointing to UP as its impetus to also have their budgets supplemented through additional fees.
“Take for example the Mindanao State University. They are using the UP experience as justification for their own increases,” he said.
Bright side
Still, there is a bright side to the story.
Since freshmen enrollment started two weeks ago, the OSR and USCs have been talking with the incoming students and their parents. These interactions have been the basis for the creation of the group called Students and Parents for Accessible and Relevant Education (SPARE UP), with the main purpose of letting the university’s administration know their sentiments about the tuition increase.
“We are still laying the groundwork for SPARE UP, but all units are working together to establish their own chapters. In fact, some meetings are already set,” Ridon enthused.
Another development that he hailed as a “victory” for the UP community is the shelving of the “rehashed” version of Senate Bill (S.B.) 2587, which aims to revise the Charter of the institution. The students are protesting provisions in the UP Charter Bill or S.B. 1833 which grants encompassing powers to the Board of Regents (BOR) including the authority to enter into commercial ventures that include undertaking joint projects with private concessionaires, selling any land and assets of the university, and granting long-term leases.
“If that bill was passed, then it could have spelled the end of our basic rights to quality and affordable education. The tuition increase is bad enough, commercialization of UP would make it worse,” Ridon concluded.(Bulatlat.com)
