STUDENTS from Saint Louis University were joined by the militant youth group Anakbayan in a protest rally Monday to condemn the alleged five percent tuition hike for incoming freshmen in the next school year.
In a statement, the youth group claimed they are protesting the lack of transparency from the SLU Administration regarding the increase and alleged approval of academic calendar shift from June to March to August to May.
The students wore black shirts and held a petition signing in front of SLU main gate.
SLU School of Humanities Student Council governor Marben Panlasigui said the five percent tuition increase is another burden for the students and parents who are already suffering from skyrocketing tuition and other fees in the university.
The said increase, said Panlasigui, only exacerbates the suffering of parents from yearly tuition increase and other basic commodities price hikes.
For Anakbayan secretary general Ameena Macatangcal, the lack of consultation from the SLU administration regarding the tuition increase and academic calendar shift only shows the continuing violation of student's democratic rights inside the university.
She said the yearly tuition increase only manifests the carry-over scheme implemented by the Administration over the years allegedly to gain more profit.
Macatangcal added the blame lies on the Commission on Higher Education and the Aquino administration for their continuing inutility with regard to the student issues. She said that this only manifests a government that does not recognize education as a right.
Panlasigui and Macatangcal said they will continue to stage series of actions like black shirt wearing every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
They also said they will hold much bigger and militant protest action on Friday, March 7, 2014.
Ched meanwhile stressed it does not require colleges and universities imposing fee increase to incoming freshmen.