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“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
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).
“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.”
“To deny students of the right to education is synonymous to denying them the right to a better future.”
SIDEBAR STORY | Is education at PUP still for the poor?
“The use of schools for military purposes puts children at risk of attack and hampers children’s right to education.” – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
RELATED STORY | ‘Military presence in schools results in rights violations’
Last year, soldiers from the 25th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army occupied the Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc. (STTICLCI) in Purok 4-B, Mangayon village, Compostela Valley. The soldiers reportedly arrested four students, interrogated, and used them as guides in military operations.
'Soldiers’ encampment inside school premises is a violation of many international instruments which the Philippines is a signatory, the Constitution and specific laws like Republic Act 9610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Law.' - CRC
“There is no truth to the claim of the government that these employees or their positions are not needed because the education sector is evidently understaffed right now.” – Benjamin Valbuena, ACT
“It would be a double blow for typhoon-ravaged schools if these impending budget cuts push through. The cuts are particularly lethal, as the government will not provide any capital outlay for the said schools. How will they rebuild damaged buildings without a single cent in their infrastructure budget?” – Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon
Students of the Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology are protesting the collection of additional fees for the construction of a new school building.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers said at least 25,000 teachers would boycott the barangay elections because of the meager allowance.
Sylvia Benedicto is a teacher who goes out of her way to support her students, a friend who teachers go to for help, an activist who fights for what is right.
“It is difficult to teach especially when there are distractions…The burden to make learning more exciting and interesting is on us, but how can we do it if the government does not even provide for our basic needs?” – Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Related story:Teaching is her life, passion, commitment
Related story: Teachers risk their lives for a pittance during elections’
Baguio's Strike Week slams pork barrel and demands higher state subsidy to education.
The principal of a public school in a province in northern Luzon allegedly asked newly-hired teachers to pay P50,000 each.
While it is true that education has gotten the biggest allocation so far in the proposed 2014 national budget, it still does not comply with the constitutional mandate that education should get the biggest allotment nor does it meet the UN standard of six percent of the GDP. – Alliance of Concerned Teachers
“In truth, any rewards system that pretends to set apart the 'performing' from the 'non-performing' falls flat in the face of the shortages that continue to be unmet by this administration.” – Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Sidebar story: Teachers question basis for determining, taxing incentives
Despite government claims that it has been increasing the budget for education, still the public school system is hardly coping with the shortages, and state universities and colleges have been raising tuition, thereby making tertiary education inaccessible for the poor.
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