STO. TOMAS, Davao del Norte -- Bukidnon State University Sto. Tomas External Study Center (BSU-STESC) is set to file an appeal for reconsideration before the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) office in Manila asking Ched to review its decision on the "outright" implementation of the closure order slapped against BSU-STESC, a school official said.

Teresita Gatoc, center administrator, said on Thursday they have been preparing all the necessary documents to support their appeal which will be filed before Ched central office later this month to show cause why the immediate implementation of the closure is unwarranted.

This as Gatoc viewed the closure order as a deliberate attempt to "strip" the constitutional right of the students to education.

Gatoc said that an outright or immediate closure order of the school was too harsh and implementing the closure order will eventually affect the 2,000 students enrolled presently in the school, adding that "Ched must also take into account the situation of our students of which majority are working students whose economic status is below poverty line."

The issue stemmed from a Ched En Banc resolution No. 507-201 where it approved and ordered all Bukidnon State University External Study Centers in Davao Region to be closed after it failed to comply with the Ched provisions of CMO No. 27-2009 and pertinent provisions of Morphe Law.

However, Gatoc said that on June 8, 2012 a monitoring visit was conducted where Ched personnel physically inspected and toured the school campus and stressed that findings were seriously acted and given appropriate actions to comply with Ched's requirements in nine areas, citing that the "administration has provided adequate facilities in some courses and constructed various physical projects to improve the school's infrastructure facilities."