Press Release
June 16, 2009
CHED toxic and deadly than any virus, slowly killing an accessible,
relevant, mass-oriented education - Anakbayan
Militant youth strikes on first day of classes wearing masks in front
of CHED
Davao City—Militant youth and students stormed [yesterday, June 15]
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office-XI and
placed a warning sign to the public while wearing face masks with
calls to end the commercialization of the educational system in the
first day of classes.
Led by Anakbayan, the students condemned the actions of CHED and
called the agency as the commission for 'highly expensive' education
and the number one supporter of capitalist educators.
“We urge the youth and students to take part in the call to end the
existence of this 'toxic' commission which only served the interests
of capitalist educators in keeping the educational system highly
commercialized, colonial and repressive,” said Anakbayan southern
Mindanao regional spokerperson Sheena Duazo.
The group said CHED’s appeal for a tuition hike freeze last February
did not even give any clear solutions to the problem of the students
with regards to the unnecessary fees in both state and private
colleges and universities.
“There may be colleges and universities that did not increase tuition
this school year, the burden of the students rests in the exorbitant
miscellaneous and other fees that pushes the youth to stop pursuing
education in the tertiary level,” Duazo said.
The group stated that majority among all the colleges and universities
in Davao City have not increased this year but there are still some
which opted to increase. Prominent schools such as Ateneo de Davao
University and the Rizal Memorial Coleges are just some of the
colleges and universities that had increased its tuition fee.
It was reported last February that at least 258 higher educational
institutions (HEIs), including four state colleges and universities
(SUCs), are seeking the nod of the Commission on Higher Education
(Ched) to be able to hike their tuition fees the coming school year.
“We cannot help but take a stand against this pressing issue specially
now that the impending threat is evident in the House Resolution
Number 1109 otherwise known as the Constituent Assembly which would
pursue Charter Change and if it does, it would only lead to the full
privatization and commercialization of all colleges and universities,
leaving a bleak future for the Filipino youth,” Duazo said.
The group said that this first day protest will only become the start
of the series of mass actions of the youth and students against the
commercialization of education as well as confronting the issues of
charter change.
For Reference:
Sheena Duazo – Anakbayan Southern Mindanao Regional Spokesperson
0929-886-9631
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