University of the Philippines Manila College of Arts & Sciences Department of Behavioral Sciences

Let Kristel Tejadas Death Lead to Meaningful Changes! Right to Education for All!
A statement of the Department of Behavioral Sciences, UP Manila The faculty and staff of the Department of Behavioral Sciences of the University of the Philippines Manila extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Kristel Pilar Mariz P. Tejada on her untimely demise. The tragic death of Kristel, 16-year old first year Behavioral Sciences student of UP Manila, should serve not just as a wake-up call, but also as a call to action, for the countrys national leaders and all the constituents of the premier State University to genuinely address the worsening condition of our education system, in particular, the continued onslaught of tuition increases that deprive many poor but deserving students like Kristel of their constitutional right to education. The death of Kristel should be an occasion for University officials to thoroughly examine and institute meaningful and pro-student changes in policies, structures and mechanisms related to tuition payments, scholarship and financial assistance programs and services, within the UP System, particularly in UP Manila, and to revoke all policies and programs that run counter to students welfare and interest. Kristels death should not be just another statistic added to the increasing number of Iskolar ng Bayan who are unable to pursue and complete their UP education because of insurmountable financial burdens that their economically disadvantaged families have to face in the midst of limited opportunities and elitist educational policies. Her death gave us a human face to the long standing struggle against state apathy and neglect of the education of our youth. The 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the obligation of the State to ensure the enjoyment of the right to education, including tertiary education, by all Filipino citizens. Article XIV Section 1 stipulates: The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality Education at all levels (underscore provided) and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Thus, tertiary education is a human right every Filipino citizen is entitled to acquire. State policies, programs and other forms of interventions which will enable its people, particularly the vulnerable and marginalized sections of the population, to access tertiary education have to be in place. Sufficient State support and subsidies to State colleges and universities like UP, expanded scholarship and financial assistance grants, student loan programs, study now pay later schemes, installment payment plans, student employment programs, are some of the strategies which can be explored and instituted to increase access to tertiary education particularly by poor but deserving students. Identifying and formulating the appropriate and effective programs and plans need to be done in an environment characterized by democratic participation, transparency and accountability.

In the case of the UP system, it is urgent that the institutionalized Socialized Tuition Fee and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) undergo thorough review so that it is made more sensitive and responsive to the needs and conditions, most especially of economically disadvantaged students. Current rules and procedures related to its application, processing, bracketing and filing of appeals of applicants need to be evaluated in order to make the system simpler, more student-friendly, and efficient. Moreover, other student-friendly strategies like study-now-pay-later and installment payment schemes have to be seriously studied and considered for implementation, especially in the light of worsening economic and financial problems encountered by many Filipino families. The mechanical and heartless application of repressive rules like the forced leave of absence/no late payment policy implemented by the UP Manila administration has no place in a State university like UP. Without the benefit of democratic consultation and participation of its constituents, and the utter disregard of students rights and welfare, the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs released a Memorandum addressed to the University Registrar and all College Secretaries to the effect that students who have not paid their tuition fees after August 12, 2012, are not considered officially enrolled. Their names shall be removed from the class lists and they shall be advised to apply for a leave of absence (LOA). Despite the criticisms and protests hailed by the constituents of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) against the deadly Memorandum, the Chancellor and his ViceChancellor for Academic Affairs turned a deaf ear and persisted with their autocratic and callous style of leadership. This certainly runs in conflict with the avowed principles of collegiality, representation, accountability, transparency and active participation of the University constituents (UP Charter of 2008) which serve as the guiding principles of decision-making in the University System. We hold UP Manila Chancellor Manuel B. Agulto and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Marie Josephine de Luna largely accountable for the deprivation of Kristels right to education that cost her life. We demand that justice be served for Kristel Tejada through the implementation of meaningful changes in UP policies and programs to enable the marginalized Filipino youth like her greater access to UP education! We call upon the UP community to demand and uphold democratic governance from our University officials! We appeal to the conscience of Chancellor Manuel Agulto and Vice Chancellor Josephine de Luna to show their solidarity and humility to the aggrieved family of Kristel Tejada and other victims of their repressive policy by rendering their irrevocable resignation!

Faculty and Staff of the Department of Behavioral Sciences College of Arts & Sciences UP Manila 18 March 2013