As the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) kicked off the start of the new academic year, students flocked to the PUP main campus as student councils continue to call for improved quality education on October 2 for the Balik Sinta 2023.
The event, spearheaded by the PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (PUP-SKM), was assembled to welcome PUPians for another collegiate year in line with the 119th Founding Anniversary of PUP this week.
One of the highlights of the event was the rally reassembled by the PUP-SKM together with different student councils from their respective departments and organizations—College of Education Student Council (COED-SC), College of Accountancy and Finance Student Council (CAF-SC), College of Communication Student Council (COC-SC), and others joined the march.
Student councils continued to call for furthering issues about the retention policy pointed out by the CAF-SC and College of Architecture, Design, and Built Environment Student Council (CADBE-SC) as the standards are "overqualified" for students who are taking qualifying examinations.
"Kaya naman mga Iskolar ng Bayan, kolektibo nating labanan ang mga mapanikil at anti-estudyanteng polisiya at itulak ang pagpapabasura sa retention policy. Ipanawagan na itaas ang budget sa PUP at SUCs (state universities and colleges) at ating isulong ang kalidad, inklusibo, at aksesableng edukasyon para sa lahat," mass leader from CAF, Joyce Anwin Sumo ddressed the issue encircling the university.
PUP is one of the institutions affected by the budget cuts which translates to the university's quality of education, amount of classrooms, budget for student projects and equipment, which student councils wish to be reformed.
Among the groups that protested was the COC-SC, one of the university's departments with a high workload in terms of production and laboratories, disclaiming their grievance with budget deficiency.
"Taon-taon tayong humaharap sa budget cut [...] patunay ito na pinagkakaitan tayo ng dekalidad at aksesableng edukasyon [...] Hindi magpapatinag ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan at alagad ng midya—patuloy na magmumulat, magsusulat, at makikibaka para sa mapagpalayang edukasyon," said COC-SC councilor Christian Joel Nazario.
Aside from the budget cut that affects the quality education of the university, national issues were addressed as well, specifically that the controversial allocation of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s confidential funds are still under the Senate’s wrangles.
Student councilors expressed dissatisfaction against Duterte's unreasonable use of ₱125 million in just 11 days which SCs are certain that if said fund was provided to state universities like PUP instead, access to equipped facilities in the campus would have been more available.
The PUP Icons also made their appearance for their protest runway projecting their placards with messages about press freedom, gender equality, mandatory ROTC, and more issues under the Marcos-Duterte administration.
Article: Alexandra Mae Uy
Graphics: Kayceline Alfonso
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