By FINELA MEJIA
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — This year, school administrators have once again failed to serve just education to students with the new round of tuition and other fee increases in Baguio universities and colleges. Hence, they proved that education is a favor that comes with a high price. 

Schools are in race with each other with their proposed increases in tuition and other fees. The University of the Cordilleras (UC) will again experience 10% increase in tuition and other fees, not to mention the 556.81% increase in a newly-acquired miscellaneous. Saint Louis University (SLU) will welcome freshmen as they impose 5% tuition increase while other students will have 6% increase in miscellaneous. University of Baguio (UB) is also in race with 15% tuition increase, which apparently, is the highest proposal among the universities.  Baguio Central University (BCU) joins in with 5% tuition increase, while Baguio College of Technology (BCT) made an announcement, but did not provide figures.  

In this race, they leave behind the primary thing- students’ interests.  
Each year, school administrators fall short in providing education as a service. Instead, they proudly inculcate to our young minds that such service means a culture of profit, and a privilege to a few. Each year, they displease us by taking away one thing closest to our heart – education. However, we will not make it easy for them this time. 

With all these increases, we, students stand firm with our claim that quality education should not be directly proportional to higher cost of education.  In the same way, we assert our right to education inasmuch as we believe that it is not our sole responsibility to provide a quality and accessible education.  

We then salute our fellow students, especially student leaders who are courageous in facing school administrators in opposing unjustified tuition and other fees increases. We encourage the majority of students to take the same stand, support and be one with their student leaders and do all possible means to show their opposition.  

Likewise, we urge our local officials and educational institutions to equal and complement students’ efforts. It is high time you show your concern and value to education. We ask you to do necessary actions available in your fields to immediately address this dilemma. During this unsurpassed time, we, students need your utmost support.  

To our local officials, we challenge you to intervene and demand school administrators to be just in collecting fees by asking them to withdraw their proposed increase. Particularly, we call the attention of Mayor Reinaldo Bautista.  As a father of Baguio and guardian to thousands of students, he should genuinely lead in addressing this concern and impose a no increase at University of Baguio.  

To the Commission on Higher Education, we urge you to make investigations regarding the long problem in collecting redundant and exorbitant fees. Also, we strongly demand for the implementation of a genuine tuition moratorium in order to put end to all these unwelcome increases.  

Again, we reiterate our claim that education is a service and not a privilege. # nordis.net