An alternative education forum aiming to discuss the worsening state of Philippine education did not push through, as the administration of the Lyceum of the Philippines University denied entrance to progressive groups which organized the event.

According to Charisma Felix, editor-in-chief of Lyceum’s student publication Sentinel who arranged the venue, the university’s Student Affairs Office (SAO) officer in charge Lizandro Ferrer called off the event upon learning that progressive groups such as the Kabataan Party and League of Filipino Students will be attending the forum.

The forum scheduled on January 25 was spearheaded by the National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP), the Alliance of Concerned teachers (ACT), and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP).

Felix also stated that the university is “sensitive” with regard to progressive groups, citing as an example Lyceum’s policy for students to secure a permit first from SAO before holding rallies.

According to Alvin Peters, national chair of NUSP, “The administration [of the Lyceum] is being repressive…in the sense na hinaharangan nila ‘yung mga progressive groups para magtalakay ng kung ano ‘yung kalagayan ng education system.”

Antonio Tinio, ACT chairperson, adds that the Lyceum administration is “obviously” against the progressive politics of the groups involved. “Kaya hindi sila bukas sa pagtanggap ng mga organisasyon katulad ng mga nandito ngayon,” he said.

Felix also added that the administration was unprepared to accommodate Senators Mar Roxas’ and Alan Peter Cayetano’s unexpected attendance.

According to Peters, the forum was organized “in light of the National Education Summit called for by Gloria Arroyo to address the commonly acknowledged, by many quarters in society, as a worsening crisis in education.” The summit is scheduled on January 31 to February 1.

He added that the forum is an assessment of the “repressive” educational policies implemented by the government, such as the annual increases in tuition and other fees, and the emphasis on courses and policies which tend to serve the market’s in-demand jobs, among others.

Also part of the program, according to Tinio, is an “assessment of the performance of the Arroyo administration in the past seven years particularly in basic education”.

He pointed to the gradual decrease of enrolees in elementary and high school since 2003, the shortage of textbooks and classrooms, the low salaries of teachers in public schools, and the teachers who were among to the victims to the spate of killings and involuntary disappearances. He also added that the budget allocated for the education sector is declining.

The organizers instead held a press conference on January 30, where they presented their 8-point agenda on their proposed actions for the improvement of the education system.# Philippine Collegian

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