LFS wants Neri 'kicked-out' of CHEd

Press Release
February 2, 2007


"Apply the same policy used in schools to discipline delinquent students to delinquent education officials. We want Neri kicked-out of CHEd now."

This was the demand made today by the League of Filipino Students after recent reports that Commission on Higher Education Romulo Neri is currently in hiding and evading arrest by the Senate to make him testify on the contreversial National Broadband Network project.

The CHEd chief, who was secretary of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) when the $329-million project was signed, has failed to show up during the two-day Education Summit at the Manila Hotel, despite his being a member of the Presidential Task Force on Education and one of the presentors in the first day of the summit.

"It is apparent that as long as the Senate is keen on having him arrested and have him testify on the summit, he will remain illusive. How can he attend to his responsibilities as CHEd Chair?," asked Crisostomo.

"Before, he was just not performing well as CHEd chief. Now, he is the perfect model for cutting classes and playing hooky," added Crisostomo.

The youth leader explained that it was under Neri's term that Malacanang lifted the ceiling on tuition and other fees that was earlier imposed by the government.

"Instead of defending students' right to accessible education, Neri allowed Malacanang to pursue and implement policies that shall further commercialize education and make it more costly for students," said Crisostomo.

Crisostomo added that Neri's predecessor as CHEd Chair Carlito Puno's decision to lift the tuition cap early last year has caused an average of 10 percent tuition increase in almost 100 schools nationwide for this academic year without consultations from students.

The LFS said that Neri's removal as CHEd chief should be done immediately before tuition consultations begin this February.

"We already have reports of universities that plan to increase tuition rates by over 10 percent for the next school year. So it would be best to have a Chair commissioner that we can have a dialogue with in order for us to air our grievances," said Crisostomo. ###

Reference:


Ron Villegas, Vice-chairerson and Information Officer, ronvil@gmail.com, 09154943120

Vencer Crisostomo, Chairperson, venzie@gmail.com, 09157991059, 09228262606