Too young to die...
because of the policies that made most not afford to "buy"
because of the policies that made most not afford to "buy"
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| One of the policies that made a tragedy happen. |
It was yesterday with this writer hath conveyeth deepest sympathies to the family of Kristel Tejada, a 16 year old UP Manila student who had committed suicide after filing for Leave of Absence (LOA) last Wednesday because of her inability to pay her tuition on time. To some, it is a purely personal issue especially for a student who had worked hard, earning every person just to return to school and study again yet choosing suicide than pursuing her gain; but for others, it is a murder made by a system that had neglected its people, especially the youth, all despite programs that would alleviate poverty and to lessen the crisis that is, more of rhetoric than what should be put into force. Kristel may had got good grades, worked hard and earn enough just to return to school same as to support her parents although her father, a taxi driver can cope up with the problem.
Sadly, with some "unfair" policies in the Philippines "premier" state university had made things worse.
That, as evidenced by her apparent death, it would say that those controversial policies behind dropouts and the apparent suicide, such as those of the "Forced LoA" and "No Late Payment", as well as the "Socialized" Tuition Fee Assistance Program, aggravates the problem regarding Education in the Philippines; starting with its very own "premier state University" that, first and foremost should had been prioritized by the state by giving it a bigger budget; but instead of these "idealistic expectations", state-supported Education systems like UP had been acting as if a Corporation: that everything is more of a business than a state obligation; that alongside commercializing such as those of its properties like in UP-Ayala Technohub, they had to impose something thinking that everyone who had passed the entrance examinations, and enrolled depending on which college and course are the ones who "afford to pay" in it; worse, had to enter somebody's house, whether rich or poor getting to know the "capacity to pay" with the value of what comes inside such as television, computer, even a cellphone and an automobile! Why on earth should deal with those things in order to know a person's capacity to pay regardless of its background? A state university should had been supported by taxes and less into tuition fees!
Well, quite strange for a University to do so that made an innocent girl who had ambitions in life be "murdered" by the system, and now that they're offering some "financial assistance" to the family of the dead? Sorry for being "Politically Incorrect" but, are these people who wore toga during commencement exercises and giving diplomas, medals to the deserving are this time trying to act like Pontius Pilates and washing their dirty linens in midst of people clamoring for bigger education budgets and scrapping controversial policies? Such policies like those of STFAP and "No late payment" made everyone depressed enough especially those of the poor who had entered an institution with reverence. After all, of what is a state, or rather say a national university like UP if it is not for the poor and instead for the well to do with cars parking near Palma Hall to the School of Economics? Why there's a need to check on personal goods, stuff all around the house to determine its value and the parent's capacity to pay for their children's tuition fees?
Yes, it is right that to most people who had understood this unconvenient truth, that STFAP, a supposed program to assist those who are incapable of not paying tuition fees, summarizes in one sentence: Rich until proven you're poor! worse, in regards to the Philippines' own educational system: No money no entry! Why on earth these people behind these policies had to face these inconvenient events happen?
Anyways, even the members of the board of regents such as UP Student regent Cleve Arguelles expressed disgust against the prevailing policies over UP, and somehow he is right to say that "She was killed by the system" rather than a "suicide" that happened. She's been killed all for having that life such as her's be measured in your capacity to pay.
As for those who are poor yet had reached college, they may had studied hard for a scholarship waiting, but also come to think that scholarships isn't enough to solve a problem regarding education especially to those coming from a poor background that even felt the crisis worse; with most of them had to sacrifice their rest by both working and studying, as evidenced by call centres full of working students trying to take time for a 15,000 peso minimum and be budgeted for every daily need that includes paying tuition fees and the like; but, as crisis becoming worst, then these measures isn't enough that made some sacrifice their studies, dropping out their subjects, stop schooling, and instead focus on their "work" that oftentimes wanting overnights for additional payments.
Thus, with this kind of experience shows that SR Arguelles is right in his statement thinking that the policy made people measured not based on knowledge and skill, but rather in the capacity to pay such as a thousand peso tuition fee.
And with Kristel Tejada's death and the nameless ones that had stopped schooling for a long hour of work for a 15,000 minimum as examples, followed by a crisis that includes increasing prices of commodities and services, then when will policies such as in UP had to stop these kind of policies taken through?
For sure some had most remember the 300% increase during the Roman administration that created ire amongst students and parents that tried much to pay for their children's future. Where are the students who had stopped studying just because they're in "Bracket A" under the STFAP?
How about the pre need companies that gone bankrupt years before with parents complaining where were their hard earned cash allocated for their children's "educational plan"?
Seems that everything that is ought to be fulfilled had reduced into figments of an imagination deemed to be forgotten such as an apathetic state that cares about politicking than obligations.
That perhaps, this writer, as well as those who had tired of increasing tuition fees, and controversial policies affecting education and other basic social needs, would say that people should been "enough of apathy, rise up, and vent rage like a bomb" directing against those who made things worse than what was experienced in the past. Frankly speaking, What is mercy anyway if they had shunned a student who was late in paying by giving a forced leave while giving financial assistance to those who had committed suicide because of being shunned from getting back to school?
This is Bullshit. And let the people know that their policies are becoming Bullshit. Enough of lamenting, AVENGE!