By: Rebecca Marie Dabalos
Adamson University Student Government (AUSG) attended the meeting at the Office of the President Conference Room regarding the consultation of the proposed tuition and other fees increase (TOFI) for academic year 2020-2021 last February 18, 2020.
Adamson University Administrators announced an eight to fifteen percent of tuition and othe fee increase while stating their reasons such as enhancement of various project, equipment, and facilities.
According to the administration, the proposed increase will not only meet accreditation standard for an Autonomous Institution but will also benefit all faculty members with their salary increase in accordance to Sec. 5 of the Republic Act 6728.
Agreement between Representative from various university sectors (faculty, parents, Graduate School Association, Alumni Association, and the College of Law Student Government) of fee increase for better education caused the students to clamor their complaint against the proposed increase.
Voicing out their concerns, some of the students are affected with COVID-19 pandemic crisis; Zobel fire tragedy and Taal Volcano Eruption where some students were not yet fully recovered stating an argument that not everyone has the capacity to adjust financially if the proposed tuition fee increase will be implemented.
Agitation of the student leads them to form a network joint, Ayokong Magmahal Adamson Network, an alliance with youth progressive organization that firmly opposes the proposed increase and questions the credibility of the Institution’s slogan “School for the Poor” “Paaralan para sa mga Kapus – Palad”.
With that, the network undergoes an activity such Signature Campaign against TOFI to promote that education is a right not a privilege and wearing black shirt as a silent protest as a sign of solidarity to fight tuition fee increase last March 26, 2020.
Rumors clamored when the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) allegedly threat the student who will be participate on the silent protest will receive a sanction. Some progressive groups condemn such as National Union of Student of the Philippines-Metro Manila they say it is a form of repression to the student’s academic freedom. The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) denied that they have made a threat.
The petition is still on going and the AUSG release a solidarity statement against the proposed tuition fee increase with the caption “This is the plea of the student body. This is our stand. And we stand for more affordable and accessible quality education for all.” Many Adamsonian appreciate AUSG’s effort by standing on the student’s interest and this gave the Adamsonian a hope to continue their fight.
Intuitus Est Herald 