See them through!

The suicide of a UP Manila student apparently because of family and tuition woes has become the talk of the town, covering cyberspace as well. A first year Behavioral Science student of the said school ingested silver cleaner as she got home from school. Efforts to revive the poor student failed and she passes away, creating a maelstrom of discussions on the policies of UP with regards to tuition. The University of the Philippines is the country's premier state university, where tuition of students is partially subsidized, based on individual financial capacities. Tuition is socially structured where those who can afford pay more than those who not as affluent. Acceptance into the university is more difficult than most, as the “cream of the country's crop” are chosen. Hence the term “iskolar ng bayan”.

The student was apparently not allowed to enroll in the coming semester, because of an outstanding balance on a tuition loan which the college had extended twice last year. After the second extension and failure to settle, she was no longer allowed to enroll in the following semester. And what amount are we talking of? Around ten thousand pesos! The student belonged to the lower tuition bracket of the university's system, but was still required to pay tuition. What has become unacceptable to many, which is the topic of much of the current discussion, is the amount by which the student's educational future depended on! I mean, we're not talking tens of thousands, or even a hundred thousand pesos. We are talking ten thousand pesos.

Obviously the reality of not being able to continue her studies was too much on the student. According to her professor, she was an intelligent and diligent student. She is definitely in the right educational institution. It is even ironic, if I may say, that her course would have made her study the causes and effects of suicide! She never got to that lesson. Now, we will never know what she could have become, had she finished her studies. For all we know, she may have found the treatment for autism. She may have continued on to medicine and discovered the cure to Alzheimer's. All these we will never know. All because of ten thousand pesos!

I know that that UP has its own set of rules regarding the issue, and that they must be followed. But since it is a state university, then there should be other solutions to the problem. Since they have already accepted her, they should see her through as well! So as not to waste her admission, right? How many ten thousands are there in one million? In 1.6 million? While our politicians receive cash gifts in amounts such as these, a student is dead because of ten thousand pesos, or the lack thereof! If there is one place where all the pork should go into, it is here, education! How many politicians have used this during campaigns, and do not really deliver when elected?

The victim's mother's plea could not be more appropriate. That no less than the President review current policies regarding tuition in UP. I would also like to take this opportunity to call on the alumni as well. A fund of sorts could be set up for such situations. It is all a matter of determining who deserves the financial help, especially those UP has deemed “not poor enough” for a full scholarship.

Education is a right. Being accepted into UP is a privilege. Being told not to enroll anymore, deadly.