ANGELES CITY -- Youth leaders in Central Luzon will hold a conference on July 11 at Kalye Lakandula here to address and discuss the various issues and concerns plaguing students here.
In a supplemental press release sent to Sun.Star Pampanga, the conference of youth leaders representing the major schools of Central Luzon will denounce the "commercialization of education" as manifested by the continuous tuition fee increase, imposition of exorbitant miscellaneous fees, increasing lack of basic facilities (books, chairs, schools, teachers,) and decreasing quality of education.
The event, led by the Kabataan Party-List, will also lead the various student councils, publications and youth organizations in vowing to strengthen the campaign for a higher state subsidy for education to halt the current commercialization trend in the education sector.
"We will also be launching regional protests starting with the picket dialogue in Ched [Commission on Higher education] Region 3 this coming July 16. This is also in support for the national day of youth protest challenging the new President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to concretely resolve the worsening crisis in education by allotting sufficient education budget, specifically 6 percent of GDP as he promised during the campaign period," Kabataan Party-List said in a statement.
They are also announcing their participation to the People's State of the Nation Address in Batasang Pambansa this July 26 to demand the eight-point Education Agenda drafted by Kabataan Party-List.
Speakers of the conference include Bugsy Nolasco, executive vice president, National Union of Students of the Philippines-National, who will discuss the role of student councils and youth leaders in ensuring their right to education in this new administration.
Geary Salonga, spokesperson, Kabataan Party-List-Central Luzon, for his part, will present the state of students and the education sector in the region.
Other speakers are Mark Cabrera, spokesperson, Partido Pagkakaisa ng Demokratikong Mag-aaral (political party in Bulacan State University) to update the current status of the campaign and issues of the youth in Bulacan; Pat Escobar, chairperson, University of the Philippines Student Council, to talk about the issues faced by UP students; Frizelle Vasquez, senator, Holy Angel University Student Council, to talk about the issues faced by Holy Angel University students; Katrina Sicap, chairperson, Tarlac State University student council, to talk about the issues faced by Tarlac State University students; and Aireen Domingo, spokesperson, Kabataan Party-list - Zambales, to talk about the issues faced by high school students.