MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / June 2, 2014) – Filipino youth group Anakbayan has assailed the worsening education crisis under the Aquino administration during a protest Monday which coincided with the opening of classes in the country.
It also led a protest with other youth organizations and teachers and called for additional budget for education, a stop to fee hikes, the junking of the K12 program and higher wages for teachers.
“The Aquino administration’s policies have worsened the crisis of the education system. Aquino’s government has allowed education to further become a business and a privilege for a few. It has funds for pork but none for our schools and teachers,” Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan National Chairperson, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The Aquino government said it does not have enough funds to increase the salary of public school teachers.
“The private school bred hacienderos in government does not have the capacity to understand the plight of the ordinary parents and students who cannot afford expensive education. We need to remain them that education is a right and not a privilege,” Crisostomo said.
The Commission on Higher Education has approved more than 200 tuition increase applications, and the Department of Education also has approved 1,299 schools to increase tuition rates.
“Tuition fee hikes of different schools together with the price hikes, burden the Filipino families. The only one benefiting from the hikes are the capitalist educators raking billions,” Crisostomo said.
The group also assailed DepEd for pushing parents to avail of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), in order to decongest public schools.
Crisostomo said GASTPE does not address the issue of lack of facilities and teachers. The government is in fact subsidizing private education instead of giving funds to public schools, he said, adding, the government only spends seven pesos per student per day for basic education.
“Aquino should hold office in one of the classrooms of our public schools and be made to take lessons every day. He should go back to school s to understand the plight of students, parents and teachers,” Crisostomo said.
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