Worst education tragedies happened under GMA, youth groups say
What legacy?
Worst education tragedies happened under GMA, youth groups say
The Kabataan Party and the National Union of Students of the Philippines today disproved government claim of making education its legacy, saying the past six years under the Arroyo administration witnessed education’s worst tragedies.
Kabataan Party President Raymond Palatino said the administration is trying desperately to paint a rosy picture of the education sector in time for the president’s State-of-the-Nation address (SONA).
“Arroyo’s claims are far-fetched. In fact, these are the exact opposite of reality. Education would be the last thing in this government’s mind.”
“Mrs. Arroyo must still be living in her self-induced fairy tale. Her stories are not only illusory; the president herself is a poor storyteller. Even a Grade 1 student would not believe her.”
Palatino said the dismal state of public education, the growing number of school dropouts and out-of-school youth, and the declining quality of education show the real state of education in the country. “Even government figures will tell the public otherwise.”
He said the disheartening stories of Julie Albior and Flores Biwang who were the topnotchers in last year’s National Achievement Test (NAT) are poignant examples of state abandonment of the youth and education. They failed to enter college in the University of the Philippines due to poverty.
“Albior and Biwang represent the millions of poor but intelligent students who are forced to skip schooling because of rising cost of education and decreasing family incomes.”
Palatino added that the 300-percent tuition hike in UP this year even made college education more elusive to ordinary Filipino youth.
“With more preventive fees being charged both in private institutions and state schools, more Albiors and Biwangs failed to enroll for this school year.”
Palatino put the blame on the Arroyo administration, saying current policies on education and government’s disregard allow private institutions to charge onerous and dubious fees on students and transform public schools to corporate entities.
“Since 2001, the government encouraged the reduction of subsidies for public universities. This forced schools either to accept fewer students or to raise fees,” he said.
“Parallel to annual cuts in state schools budgets, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) suspended the tuition cap leading to imposition of higher fees this school year,” he added.
For his part, NUSP Secretary General Alvin Peters said students are now gearing up for the mammoth rally on July 23 to take on the Arroyo government’s abandonment of education.
“Not even the weather or the possible suspension of classes can stop thousands of youth and students to go to the streets on Monday to present the real state of education and the nation.”
“The only legacy this government can boast of is Arroyo’s unparalleled dishonesty and corruption. No amount of lies and deception in this SONA however can make us believe otherwise. The people know better,” Peters concluded.