Following the silent protest carried out by students and the #WalangPipirma spearheaded by the Far Eastern University Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) of the Far Eastern University (FEU) as a response to the impending tuition fees increase, multiple initiatives have been launched by the students within the University to drumbeat the campaign.
The FEUCSO call for #WalangPipirma referred to the consultation the school administration held on February 21. Student leaders did not attend the consulation for not wanting to become “rubber stamps” to the school’s application for tuition increase with the Commission on Higher Education.
FEUCSO called for a dialogue with the administration on March 1 so the students would be able to air their concerns. However, the request for dialogue was not acknowledged by the administration.
As of press time, there are no news yet about another dialogue discussing the fees increase.
Petition vs tuition hike
The #AyokongMagmahalFEU Network, the student-led alliance who initiated the previous black ribbon tying and silent protest, sustained efforts to drumbeat the campaign through continued awareness-raising and discussions on the issue.
“Ano nga ba yung nag-udyok sa ‘kin para magsalita laban sa usaping ito? Siguro nakikita ko kasi kung papaano tayo paglaruan nung sistema at ang hirap nung wala ka na lang magawa. Kaya gusto ko sana maging boses nung mga taong hindi kayang mag-speak up about this certain issue dahil takot sila, gusto ko rin i-remind sila na wala namang mali sa ginawa namin dahil karapatan namin iyon bilang mga estudyante at mga kabataang ninanais na magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ngunit ipinagkakaitan ng kapitalistang pamamaraan,” said Maxinne Chavez, a convenor of the network.
[What pushed us to speak out against this matter? It’s because I saw how we were played by the system and how hard it is to do nothing about it. I would want to be the voice for those who can’t speak out yet about this certain issue because they are afraid. However, I would also like to remind everyone that we did nothing wrong (in asserting our rights) because it is also our right as students and youth who want to have a bright future even though it is being taken away through capitalist means.]
“Sa aking course na Political Science, 48 thousand pesos ang aking matrikula ngayong 2nd sem. Sa ngayon mayroon akong anim na asignatura ay sa isang asignatura ay may 2 to 3 units,” shared Mark Roland Santos, another convenor of the network.
[“In my course, which is Political Science, I pay P48, 000 for my tuition this 2nd semester. As of now I have six subjects. One subject has two to three units.]
“Alam naman natin na patuloy ang pagtaas ng mga bilihin, pamasahe at iba pang mga bagay na nakakaapekto sa atin. Ngayon may paparating na tuition fee increase, pabigat itong pasanin sa aming mga magulang na nag-papaaral at nagbibigay ng baon sa pangaraw-araw. Hirap na nga ang karamihan sa pangkain, pamasahe, hirap pa sa pampaaral. Paano na lamang namin maitataguyod ang pag-aaral kung kaming mga estudyante, kasama ng mga magulang namin ay iisipin at mamomroblema sa pagtaas ng matrikula?” said Santos.
[We know that there is currently an increase in the price of commodities, transportation, and other expenses that affect us. Now that there is a looming tuition fee increase, another heavy burden will be added upon our families who pay for our studies and give our allowance. It is hard enough to find food, to scrounge for fares and even to pay for our studies. How will we continue our studies when we, along with our families, are already burdened by the increase?”]
Hundreds of students have signed the petition against the tuition hike.
The group planned to file the petition with the school administration and the CHED. The group also said they would continue to raise awareness on tuition increase and launch campaigns to uphold the youth’s right to education.
