Up Student Commits Suicide

[bootleultras]

A new story that for me shows the true pressure faced by so many here to be the provider for their families and all this when just trying to get a good education and a real Job, very sad.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/16/920420/student-kills-self-over-tuition

MANILA, Philippines - She just wanted to finish her studies and help her four siblings.

Kristel Tejada, however, still owed P10,000 in tuition for this semester at the University of the Philippines in Manila, where the 16-year-old was a behavioral science freshman.

She asked for a tuition loan or installment payment and offered a promissory note.

When these were all turned down, Tejada’s mother, according to some reports, even knelt before UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agudo and begged that her daughter be allowed to continue attending her classes.

When that still didn’t work, Tejada was forced to file a forced leave of absence (LOA) earlier this week.

At around 3 a.m. yesterday, the despondent girl drank silver cleaner at their home in Tondo. She was rushed to the Metropolitan Medical Center but emergency teams failed to revive her.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Professor Andrea Martinez, Tejada’s program adviser, said the girl had been depressed since going on forced leave.

“We were able to talk via SMS and she told me that her filing of LOA really had a big impact on her and their family,” Martinez was quoted by the student publication Philippine Collegian as saying.

Tuition is subsidized at the state university, where students are called “iskolar ng bayan” or nation’s scholars.

Under a socialized tuition and financial assistance program, UP students from low-income families are classified through a bracketing system.

Those who fall under Bracket A pay P1,500 per unit; Bracket B students pay P1,000; Bracket C, P600, and Bracket D, P300. Students under Bracket E are exempted from tuition.

The financial assistance office evaluates applications and conducts random house visits to verify income declarations.

Tejada was classified under Bracket D. With a regular load of 18 units plus miscellaneous fees, her average tuition for one semester can amount to P7,500.

Her mother, a housewife, said they could not pay the P10,000 since the family depended on the meager income of her husband, a part-time taxi driver.

Tejada, the eldest of a brood of five, wanted to finish her degree without delay to be able to help provide for the family’s needs.

In November last year, however, the UP Manila administration barred students who failed to pay their tuition on time from attending classes.

After a dialogue with UP officials, the “no late payment policy” was eased.

By that time, however, some students had already been forced to go on leave, according to reports from the Office of the Student Regent.

UP students condemned the university policy and held simultaneous candle lighting ceremonies for Tejada yesterday afternoon at UP campuses in Manila, Quezon City, Baguio and Mindanao.

“We mourn the death of Kristel Tejada. Filipino students and youth like Kristel do not deserve this,” said Mariz Zubiri, newly elected chair of the UP Manila student council.

She said they condemned “to the highest degree” the “anti-student policies” of UP Manila and the Aquino administration for forcing students to stay out of school and take their own lives.

Zubiri said the socialized payment scheme was used as a smokescreen for tuition increases.

“Kristel is just one of the hundreds and thousands of UP and Filipino students who are pushed against the wall by the high cost of education and the Aquino administration’s abandonment of Philippine education,” Zubiri said.

– With Rainier Allan Ronda

Edited March 16, 2013 by bootleultras

[Call me bubba]

maybe just maybe this death will awaken the people to.....(FILL IN THE BLANK).............. what is needed to help improve the way of life(quality) ,,

example the market vendor in tunis,,,edsa 1986..

i will not post any further as additional reply would be more "political" and i have refrained in the past from making such statements.  

[Bruce]

I have had arrainged for me a few payment plans for students who have been rejected. Almost magic when a Kano 'tells' the financial office manager to set up a payment plan and I am putting down 2,000p. Remember that if the bills are not paid, the school can still withold the diploma.

[lyno 47]

That is just so sad that a student who wanted to finish her studies to help her family ,sees no way out but to take her own life

[Mike S]

Yes this is so sad but we also need to look at the other side of the coin ...... what happens if every student who could not pay was allowed to continue school .... you would soon have a government run free school which might not be a bad idea but we know what happens when ANY government takes over a private sector business ..... disaster ..... there is no cure for the lack of money either in education or other wise ..... and who would determine who is to be allowed to skip paying and who has to pay ..... I sure wouldn't want that job .... it is so sad that those that can't afford to continue their studies and really want to get a head must make way for those who have money and waste their time attending protests and partying all the time .... IMHO ..... :cheersty:

[lyno 47]

Mike in auz we have whats called hex fees the govt pay the school fees so the student can continue study and graduate.When they start work they are required to start paying back there hex, based on there salary.It seems to work well depending on the student to select how much of there salary they wish to pay back.cheers

[i am bob]

Student loans in Canada work somewhat similar.  Even though the government has decreed that, even if a person goes bankrupt, they must still pay off their student loans.  You would not believe how many are in default due to lack of work.

 

As for the Philippines?  It's a totally different story there.  If they don't go to university, most are pretty well sentenced to live a life of poverty.  Even having university is not a guaranty of getting a good job but it's the track to take if you want one.

[Bruce]

Even having university is not a guaranty of getting a good job but it's the track to take if you want one.

 

And let's not forget the many women who go to university for that coveted MRS degree.......

[JJReyes]

Student loans in Canada work somewhat similar. Even though the government has decreed that, even if a person goes bankrupt, they must still pay off their student loans. You would not believe how many are in default due to lack of work.

 

The United States instituted a similar policy after graduating medical students, burdened with debt, would declare personal bankruptcy. The credit card companies and financial institutions would immediately give them huge lines of credit. The reasoning was without debts and high earning potential, they were now a good credit risk. There credit standing was better than those who would honorably repay the loans over time. The one saddled with the student loan debt was the federal government as the ultimate guarantor.

 

I previously read about a Philippine "Study Now, Pay Later." program that allowed students to graduate and repay their student loans through payroll deductions. Lots of publicity, but I guess there was a lack of funds.

[Bruce]

I previously read about a Philippine "Study Now, Pay Later." program that allowed students to graduate and repay their student loans through payroll deductions. Lots of publicity, but I guess there was a lack of funds.

 

I do not see such a program working in Phils. There seems to be a different system of thinking in place in Phils as compared to 1st world countries with respect of going to college.

 

In Samar, there are banner signs posted after the professional certification tests are done for the current period. Listed are ALL the schools in the region, which may be say, VIsayas, and a ranking of total number of students taking that exam to include 1st timers and retakers. #1 down to the bottom school who may have 4 test takers and 4 failed. In looking at the passing numbers of any of the professions, it is 40% or so. In the US, schools turning out such a high number of failing students would loose their certifications and any government funds.

 

But in Phils, the thinking seems to be to exclude from employment most non college grads. So many go to college and get a diploma but can not get certified in their field, but still as a college grad, they are at least employable in some semi professional position. 

 

College seems to be more of a fantasy for students in the false thinking that if they get that diploma, their future is going to be great. Actually working in the field of study they took may not be an option. Thereby getting a lower salary and not being able to pay any student loans.

 

As an example, I knew a couple of guys from Argentina who went to law school..... we talked about it and in Argentina, law school is more of a status symbol / finishing school for them to go into the family business, but never to work as an attorney. Never thought about working as an attorney. Seems to similar in Phils.....  

 

I am currently paying college fees for a 22 yr old man who is taking electrical engineering or similar course of study. The instructor is a local business man who graduated from that college years ago and the projects he has the students doing are 1960's high school science fair grade of projects. The instructor shows up IF there is no conflict between the teaching schedule and his personal business he also runs at the same time. There is no way that this student can compete with a grad from a real university in looking for a real job in a real city. But I am sure he wil graduate.....