A Fiery Christmas in UP

I’ve just read on the INQ7 website that UP Diliman has announced the cancellation of its annual Lantern Parade (click here for the news), traditionally held on the last day of school prior to the Christmas break.

Apparently because of the volatile situation in UP about the impending tuition fee increase, officials have scrapped the annual Christmas parade citing security concerns and potential damage to people and property.

As every Isko and Iska may already know, the UP Board of Regents, the ruling body of UP, is scheduled to vote today the tuition fee increase proposal that will propel the current Php 300 per unit fee to Php 1000 per unit.

Naturally, this will really ignite the fury of every tibak and non-tibak in UP as any tuition fee increase, whether a reality or a rumor, never fails to elicit a positive yet provocative reaction from those who will ultimately bear the burden.

Personally, I think the tuition fee hike is just about due. Heck, when I first entered UP 13 years ago, the tuition fee then was (back then) a hefty Php 300 per unit. Imagine more than a decade later, the tuition fee is still stuck at Php 300 per unit while UP’s budget from government has drastically diminished.

It makes sense, of course, to increase tuition fees but they best be able to address the needs of those who cannot afford the sudden surge of a one-sem tuition to a massive Php 18,000 from a previously affordable Php 5,400.

I agree with one of my former professors’ (and now one of UP Diliman’s officials) thoughts on the tuition fee. Read his thoughts on this issue in his blog.

Our UP officials, I’m sure, have nothing but the best interest of the university in mind if they do decide to approve the threefold increase in tuition. For UP to remain competitive, it has to upgrade itself – facilities, technology, and yes, teachers. Each and every one of those professors currently serving in UP has a chance of earning bigger paychecks from some other college or university but they have chosen to remain in UP. Of course, they have mouths to feed as well so, there’s a need to make sure that UP retains them.

When I was still in college, a lot of the facilities in Diliman needed upgrading. But heck, the measly annual budget wasn’t even enough to cover the expense for a paint job, much less an upgrade. The only time a college or a room at that got a facelift was when it received some sort of financial assistance from sponsors. Now this is good for colleges such as BA, MassCom, Econ … but how about CHK, PublicAd, Libe? Not all colleges are attractive to sponsors.

I can empathize with the students as well as this will be an unexpected gastos. But the STFAP should solve the problem for them. Back in my college days I knew people who were STFAP brackets 1-3 (free tuition, plus stipend, plus stuff) but were driving cars to school, wearing signature RTWs, and totting the latest in trends and fads.

The STFAP system should be improved so that only those who deserve help, get help from UP. This should alleviate the situation somehow.

But all of UP must face reality. It’s either they sink or they swim. While waiting for the miracle of an increased government budget, UP – its’ officials, employees, teachers, and students and their parents – must accept the harsh truth of the need to increase tuition.

Otherwise, the future will be bleak for State U.