STUDENTS CALL FOR PASSAGE OF STRAW BILL;
Stamped exam booklets to protest
students' rights violations
students' rights violations
In light of the continuing violations against students’ rights in public and private academic institutions, a group composed of student councils and organizations have jumpstarted a campaign to ensure the passage of the Students’ Rights and Welfare Bill or House Bill No. 2190 filed by Akbayan Representatives Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello.
The Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare, in a forum today at the Balay Kalinaw in the University of the Philippines - Diliman, asserted that numerous cases of such violations have been left unaddressed. In attendance were students from UP Diliman, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle University, and Pamantasang Lungsod ng Muntinlupa.
According to Akbayan Youth National Chairperson Leloy Claudio, "Students do not let go of their constitutionally guaranteed rights upon their admission to an academic institution. The STRAW Bill seeks to ultimately ensure that students are protected in their schools through concrete mechanisms." Claudio added, "We basically want a clear-cut law that not just enumerates, but strengthens the rights of students."
UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC) Vice Chairperson Mickey Eva said that “amid the rights enshrined in the Constitution and various international statutes, there is still the persistence of discrimination in school admission, the imposition of exorbitant fees, the curtailment of our freedom to express and organize, among many others.”
“Another dire issue we are sure to experience in the coming days is the unjust ‘No Permit, No Exam’ policy of some schools even if there is already an existing CHED memorandum against it,” according to Cleo Leogardo, Chairperson of the De La Salle Student Government (DLSU SG) National Affairs Committee and a member of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) Secretariat, pertaining to the impending exam season in almost all academic institutions.
Leogardo further stated that “this is in violation of our right to quality and accessible education because it discriminates against a student’s socio-economic status.”
Moses Albiento, Junior Central Board Representative of the Ateneo de Manila Sanggunian and Coalition Secretary General, added that “[students] are also in danger of future threats to our rights because of the irresponsible filing of repressive and ridiculous pieces of legislation like the proposed Anti-Planking Act.”
“It does not only violate our freedom of expression and our freedom to peaceably assemble,” mentioned Albiento, “It also prescribes the creation of a universal code of student conduct which may lead to the graver curtailment of our liberties and human rights.”
Jeff Crisostomo, a former Councilor of the UPD University Student Council and currently a legislative officer in Congress, discussed the history and the status of the bill in the Lower House. "Students must be empowered in the legislative process by being equipped with substantial knowledge about the bill and the intricacies of the law in order to successfully lobby for its passage," said Crisostomo.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Gio Tingson of the National Youth Commission responded to the concerns raised by the students. “We will strengthen our commitment to advance the cause of our students by helping in the efforts for the passage of laws like House Bill No. 2190, which shall ultimately ensure the protection of students’ rights and welfare.” Tingson emphasized that “we can never truly attain genuine progress in this country if its future leaders are currently disempowered through the repression of their rights.”
The students plan on stamping exam booklets and giving them out to fellow students with the statement "Passed this paper under protest! Pass the STRAW Bill Now!" to heighten support from their peers in campaigning against students' rights violations such as the "No Permit, No Exam" policy and other forms of repression and to push for the immediate passage of House Bill No. 2190. ●
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MGA MAG-AARAL, NANAWAGAN
SA PAGPASA NG STRAW BILL;
SA PAGPASA NG STRAW BILL;
Tinatakan ang mga exam booklet bilang
protesta sa paglabag sa kanilang mga karapatan
protesta sa paglabag sa kanilang mga karapatan
Kaugnay ng patuloy na paglabag ng karapatan ng mga mag-aaral sa pampubliko at pribadong paaralan, muling sinimulan ng isang grupo ng mga sangguniang mag-aaral at mga organisasyon ang kampanya upang tiyakin ang pagpasa ng Students' Rights and Welfare Bill o House Bill No. 2190 na inihain nina Akbayan Rep. Kaka Bag-ao at Rep. Walden Bello.
Sa isang forum at press conference kanina sa Balay Kalinaw sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman, idiniin ng Coalition for Students' Rights and Welfare na marami pa ring paglabag sa karapatang pangmag-aaral ang nananatiling hindi natutugunan. Dumalo kanina ang mga mag-aaral mula sa UP Diliman, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle University, at Pamantasang Lungsod ng Muntinlupa.
Ayon kay Akbayan Youth National Chairperson Leloy Claudio, "Hindi binibitawan ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang mga batayang karapatan sa pagpasok nila sa loob ng paaralan. Nilalayon ng STRAW Bill na tuluyang matiyak na ang mga mag-aaral ay maipagtatanggol sa paaralan sa pamamagitan ng mga kongkretong mekanismo." Dagdag ni Claudio, "Ang nais lamang namin ay magkaroon ng malinaw na batas na hindi lamang naglalahad kundi nagpapalakas sa mga karapatan ng mga mag-aaral."
Binanggit ni Mickey Eva, Pangalawang Pangulo ng UP Diliman Sangguniang Mag-aaral ng Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya, na “kahit nakalatag na ang ating mga karapatan sa Saligang Batas at sa iba't ibang mga internasyonal na batas, tuloy pa rin ang diskriminasyon sa pagtanggap ng mga paaralan, pagpataw ng matataas na bayarin, pagtapak sa kalayaang magpahayag at mag-organisa, at marami pang iba.”
“Isa pang malalang isyu na malamang na mararanasan natin sa mga susunod na araw ay ang 'di-makatarungang polisiyang “No Permit, No Exam” sa ibang paaralan kahit mayroon nang memorandum ang CHED laban dito,” ani Cleo Leogardo, Pangulo ng De La Salle Student Government (DLSU SG) National Affairs Committee at kasapi ng Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) Secretariat, na pinagbabatayan ang paparating na panahon ng mga pagsusulit sa mga paaralan.
Dagdag ni Leogardo na “isa itong paglabag sa aming karapatan para sa edukasyong kaledad at abot-kaya dahil idinidiskrimina nito ang isang mag-aaral base sa kanyang katayuan sa lipunan.”
Ani Moses Albiento, Junior Central Board Representative ng Ateneo de Manila Sanggunian at Secretary General ng Koalisyon, “Nanganganib din ang mga mag-aaral sa mga haharapin pang banta sa aming mga karapatan dahil sa iresponsableng paghain ng mga mapaniil at katawa-tawang panukala gaya ng Anti-Planking Act.”
“Hindi lang nito nilalabag ang aming mga karapatang maghayag at magdaos ng mapayapang kilos protesta,” ani Albiento, “Isinasaad din nito na dapat magkaroon daw ng isang pangmalawakang 'code of student conduct' na maaaring humantong sa mas malalang pagtapak sa aming mga kalayaan at karapatang pantao.”
Samantala, tumugon si Commissioner Gio Tingson ng National Youth Commission sa mga nabanggit ng mga mag-aaral. “Palalakasin natin ang ating panata sa pagpapaigting ng panawagan ng ating mga mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa pagpapasa ng mga batas gaya ng House Bill No. 2190, na magtitiyak ng pagtatanggol ng karapatan at kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral.” Idiniin ni Tingson na “hindi natin tuluyang makakamit ang tunay na kaunlaran sa bansa kung ang mga susunod na mamumuno nito ay kasalukuyang naisasagilid at nawawalan ng kapangyarihan dahil sa pagtapak sa mga karapatan nila.”
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