A snuffed out memory

Last weekend, our dear oblation was draped with black cloth to commemorate the first year of Kristel Tejada's death. Who would have thought how time flies so fast? It has been a year since a promising behavioral science student's opportunity to finish her studies in the country's national university was cut off.

It took a whooping tuition fee bill for her to end her life, thinking that there would be no more option left.

Kristel is one of the many hopefuls to finish a grueling student life in the University of the Philippines. As soon as I knew that I passed the UP College Admission Test, I cried. Not only because I got qualified to be enrolled to the country's most prestigious university but I saw a difficult journey ahead. By golly, I was right.

I struggled with sleepless nights from doing assignments and papers. Most of my vacant time was spent in the library studying for exams, and at extra-curricular activities that needed constant attending. Aside from what a student had to do in the academe, we were faced with high tuition fees that were to be paid every semester.

I'm lucky enough to have a father who pays for these bills but for some who have none, they have to prove their incapacity to pay up to the minute detail; another hassle for an already suffering family.

On top of the financial probing, the family looks for means to provide for the student's lodging and food allowance; another problem arises.

I understand the subsidized scheme by the government, but shouldn't public schools be accessible to all regardless of economic status?

This situation is not only true to tertiary section. Even in public elementary and secondary schools, the facilities' conditions are deteriorating and the teachers are living off a meager salary. Add to that the burden of tax deductions from their already small wage. Students on the other hand do not have uniforms or books for a decent use. In the far flung areas, roads from their homes to schools are scarce. They have either to walk or swim just to get a decent education.

Powers that be in the country should invest more on education, if we want that hope of a facelift for the Philippines to work. Funds should be poured in not only to infrastructure and facilities but also for teachers.

These teachers are the ones who toil day and night preparing for the lessons, they deserve the best incentive there is.

In about forty days, I will be exiting the university and same clamor remains - reforming and/or scrapping of the subsidized tuition scheme. I don't know how long will it take for somebody to notice our plea.

If Kristel were still around today, she would have coped with a tough week cramming for exams and writing papers. As she is gone, we are left of a memory to ponder upon. I understand that there were appropriate measures taken following Kristel's passing but it seems to me that nothing has changed. It is still the same amount to pay per semester and I fear that it would be double by the time I leave the institution.

As several incoming freshmen were enjoying their open house tour on Friday, I could not help but notice their excitement. They will be entering one of the most adventurous yet dangerous perils in their lives. I only hope they will make the right choices within their stay - choices in terms of which friends to be with, which subjects to take and what stand to make.

It will be an exciting year as UP shifts its academic calendar from June to August. There will be resistance, as it is a form of change but the payment remains the same. We do not need another Kristel for them to realize that the system needs changing.