demand 'education overhaul'

Students hold protest at Education Summit



Press Release
January 30, 2007


The League of Filipino Students together with other youth groups staged today a protest rally at Manila Hotel, the venue of the government's Education Summit to demand a "general overhaul" of the country's educational system and a reversal of the "rotten neoliberal policies" currently plaguing Philippine education.

"Considering Arroyo's track record for the last seven years, it will not be surprising if her Education Summit turns out to be a sham, another attempt to mask anti-student policies as beneficial and necessary," said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of the LFS.

"The only role of students in the summit are to be ushers in the event. The fact that there is no representative of the major stakeholders in education, the students and teachers is enough proof that the summit is a farce," said Crisostomo.

He added that the lack of student representation also shows how the government underestimates the capacity of students to be involved in policy formulation, and how their opinions are being ignored even in issues that concern them.

The youth leader added that the problems in education are already extensive, deepening and deeply rooted in the education system and hence can only be solved by an "education overhaul" and not just "stop-gap" solutions.

The rising cost of education has forced a growing number of students to either drop-out of school or work. Even State Colleges and Universities like the University of the Philippines are raising tuition fees alongside decreasing government subsidy. Shortages in classrooms, textbooks and teachers continue to hound basic and secondary education,"

According to independent databank IBON Foundation, the drop-out rates have risen from 7.7% in 2001-01 to 10.6% in 2005-06 in the elementary level, and from 8.5% to 15.8% in the secondary levels.

Crisostomo attributed these problems to the government's "neoliberal policies" on education such as the Long-Term Higher Education Development Plan (LTHEDP), Medium-Term Higher Education Development Plan (MTHEDP) even the Education Act of 1982.

He also cited the recent decision of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to lift the ceiling on tuition hikes and fully deregulate tuition increases in private higher educational institutions as proof of the bias of the government to school-owners and businessmen.

"And these are just with regards to accessibility. he quality of education that we provide our students should also be assessed? For example, the focus on english, math and science and the lumping together of social sciences into one subject - Makabayan, does that develop nationalism and critical thought?" asked Crisostomo.

"Necessarily, the solution to these problems is a complete reversal of the government's policies on education. One that makes it accessible for all and provides a nationalist orientation," said Crisostomo.

The LFS vowed more protest rallies and demonstrations in the following months as February, the month of tuition consultations in schools approaches. ###


Reference:
Ron Villegas, Vice-chairperson and Information Officer, ronvil@gmail.com, 09154943120

Vencer Crisostomo, Chairperson, venzie@gmail.com, 09157991059, 0922826260