3 july minutes osr grievance consultation re sts

8/12/2019 3 July Minutes OSR Grievance Consultation re STS

1/27

University of the PhilippinesOFFICE OF THE STUDENT REGENTGrievance Consultation on the results of the Socialized Tuition System (STS) Application

3 July 2014

UFS Conference Room Vinzons Hall UP Diliman

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS2.09PM1 Student Regent SR) Macuhaoutlines agenda for todays grievance consultation:2

3

1) Hearing of grievances42) Discussion re STS53) OSR Initial analyses and critique64) Open forum75) Symbolic action8

9

2.10PM10

SR acuhaopens the floor for grievances re STS application results.1112 Dr. Umali (faculty member from the College of Science) manifests a concern of a13

Mathematics major student sent thru email.14

15

The student was only allowed to enroll in UP by his father, a janitor, after obtaining a DOST16

scholarship. However, he lost his scholarship because of difficulties to cope with classes17

due to dengue. He then became a self- supporting student and applied for STFAP which18

placed him in Bracket C. He applied for STS for the coming school year but got the same19result (PD 40 or 40% partial discount).20

21 Dr. Umali then inquires if STS has means to back-up self- supporting students.2223 SR Macuharesponds that self- supporting students must indicate special circumstances in24

the text box provided on the STS online form but their income will be included as additional25

indicator/entry for assessment.26

27 Dr. Umali continues that one possible reason why the student was placed in the same28bracket is because of the laptop he bought using his savings from previous scholarship. In29

fact, he cannot travel from Pampanga to attend todays consultation b ecause of financial30constraints.31

32 UPM USC Chair Lorenzomanifests that 1 000 characters in the appeal form is not enough to33explain appeals and specific circumstances. He suggests that aside from answering the34

online form, the student can directly send a letter to the Diliman Committee on Scholarships35

and Financial Assistance (DCSFA) through the student representative to forward his concern.36

UPM USC is practicing this protocol.37


2/27

Minutes of the Proceedings Grievance Consultation on the results of the STS ApplicationPage 2

.38 SR Macuha recognizes facultys support particularly to students under lower socio-economic39classes.40

41 UPM Nursing SC Chair Palomeno manifests difficulties experienced by the college during42STS application. Students encountered delay because the Office of the College Secretary43

(OCS) was not informed that UP mail accounts need to be distributed beforehand. In fact,44

the college masterlist was not released immediately despite SCs request for speedy45

distribution of mail accounts. Also, OCS does not know the difference between SAIS and CRS46

accounts. The student council is not yet done with STS survey however about 20-25% of the47

student population has not applied yet. On the other hand, most who applied retained their48

STFAP bracket assignments.49

50 UPLB USC Councilor Magno shares that he finds the integrity of STS anomalous because it51only accounts assets and creates its own definition of household. It does not also account52

for other significant circumstances that can happen within a year. Case in point, their53

household consists of three families but it is only their family who shoulders all expenses.54

Also, it asks for the 2013 income tax but his parent lost job just recently. While appeals are55

entertained for special cases, he is worried that his bracket assignment will increase56

because of the vicinity map when in fact, they do not own it.57

58 Mr. Michael Non (from Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity) manifests STS problems faced by two59members of the fraternity. One lives with a single parent with cancer. Unemployed, they print60

t-shirts to pay for expenses and medicines. Yet, he still got ND or no discount because of61

their house. Another member whose student number is 2006 and therefore, presumes that62

the old bracketing scheme must be applied to him got PD 40 even if they have no income or63

asset.64

65

Mr. Nonthen inquires how a student without income can still get no discount at all.6667 SR Macuha responds that brackets may increase, even without income, as long as assets68

are present. STS measures the capacity of a household to maintain these assets, without69

considering means and reasons of acquiring them.70

71 Mr. Amiel Barrera (from STAND UP CAL) manifests that a blockmate was assigned under72Bracket D instead of E1/ E2 because of the laptop that was bought out of family savings.73

Assigned to PD 40 under STS, he faces more difficulties as he needs to enroll 21 major74

units. He already filed an appeal, although uncertain of the results.75

76

UPD Engineering SC Department Representative Galvez reports that siblings with same data77get different bracket assignments (e.g. three siblings have different bracket assignments).78

79 UPD BAC Councilor Muramatsumanifests three general concerns from the constituents: (1)80questions cannot be contextualized, i.e. cellphones of different price values or kinds are81

similarly classified; (2) siblings with different bracket assignments; and (3) whether the new82

income range of ND is not applied to upperclassmen.83

84


3/27


Ms. Anna Velasco(parent of incoming 4thyear from College of Music) manifests on behalf of85parents that UP administration needs to go outside the box and consider the situation of86

the parents, its effects, and not just act as mere administrators. Human interaction and not87

just mechanical computation is needed when assessing STS results. There are several88

discrepancies such as insulting questions (i.e. unknown civil status), increase of brackets89

even after retirement, concerns about students coming from provinces, and parental90

supervision when applying for STS, among others. Her sons classmates also share the91

same sentiments re STS. There must be a petition to stop the implementation of STS,92

particularly for the upperclassmen.93

94 SR Macuharesponds that STS only includes quantity despite obvious differences. All issues95are also raised during previous board meetings and dialogues with the administration.96

97 UPD CFA SC Councilor Lazaromanifests that a certain freshman who lost his mother was98tagged as PD 40 instead of FD or full discount; and therefore, cannot enroll. SC encourages99

freshmen to enroll despite financial constraints because of the expensive cost of Fine Arts.100

Second- degree students are not included in STS because administration argues they are101

not the responsibility of the university. However, most second-degree students pay for102

their education, pursuing real interests or choice.103

104 SR Macuhanotes that issues presented here are the same as before during STFAP such as105wrong bracket assignments, problems re siblings, insulting questions, and others.106

107 Ms. Charlotte France (from STAND UP) manifests that UP administration treats STS as a108discount system. It is, in fact, an added insult because the administration merely gives out109

discount coupons to applying students after going through an offensive process. Discount110

systems only proves Php 1,500 as the default bracket, and that such is a de facto tuition111

hike, compared to before when actual tuition depends on bracket assignment.112

113

2.43PM114

The assembly agrees to hear further grievances later after the OSR discussion.115

116

SR acuhaproceeds with his presentation re STS, Hubad na Katotohanan.1117118

Changes under the new STS need to be identified and discussed on the context of right to119

accessible quality education, as stated under Article XIV, Section 1 of the Philippine120

Constitution. The UP Charter of 2008 or RA 9500 further mandates the government to121

strengthen UP as national university. But such is not felt today. STFAP underwent reforms122

due to death of Kristel Tejada, among others. Students were divided between reforming and123

scrapping this policy, but the former prevailed. Bracket assignments are now made simpler.124Indicators are reduced to two: income and assets, using MORES.125

126 Chair Lorenzo adds that it is a constant rule that the highest indicator between the two will127be the final bracket. Manila CSFA currently handling 154 appeals from freshmen.128

129

1A copy of the presentation is on file at the OSR records. See attachment (Annex A).


4/27


SR Macuha continues that income ranges adjusted according to inflation rate, except for E1130and E2. Bracket names were replaced from alphanumeric (A, B, C, D, E1, E2) to ND or no131

discount, PDs or partial discounts 33, 60, 80 or 40, 60, 80 (for other CUs and RUs) and FDs132

or full discounts with and without stipend. Stipend increased from 2,400Php/month to133

3,500Php, but may now be in-kind such as meal or dorm allowances. Computers determine134

bracket assignments, without human interaction, and cannot assess actual situations of135

students. Processes are decentralized and appeals are through various CSFAs in CUs and136

RUs already. However, there is no sufficient information dissemination from the137

administration.138

139

Recipients of stipends are required to maintain certain grades to continue enjoying benefits.140

Application is now without documentary evidence or proof. There are also stricter penalties,141

such as payment of tuition differentials with interest and expulsion. However students take142

risks such as lying, cheating re STS applications because of injustices and misbracketing143

problems. Financial services were promised but there is still no improvement. Student144

assistants pay is still at Php 30/hour, depending on units currently enrolled. There are also145

frequent delays in pay releases. Students who did not apply for STS get no discount, despite146

various circumstances, i.e. case of nursing students.147

148

3.15PM149

SR acuha presents the initial analysis and critique of the Office re STS.150151 SR Macuha holds that STS maintains the income generation scheme. It is disguised as a152

way to help students when in fact it unjustly collects money from them, despite the role of153

the state to make tertiary education accessible and ensure UP as national university. In fact,154

administration admits they are forced to implement STS because of state abandonment.155

156

STFAP has been reformed in many ways since its introduction as Iskolarng Bayan program157

in 1989: (1) 2007, from numerical (1-9) to alphanumerical (A-E2) bracketing scheme; (2)1582011, institutionalization of bracket B certification leading to de factotuition hike; and (3) at159

present, 2014, STS. But within surface reforms are essentially same principles which make160

affordable education only offered to a few.161

162 Councilor Magno manifests that according to dialogue with OSA, students with student163numbers 2006 and below are not affected by the scheme. However this was not the case in164

other units. Units vary in implementing STS.165

166 SR Macuha adds that a dialogue with Diliman VCSA clarifies that students can still enroll167without applying for STS, although they cannot be given discounts. VCSA no clear answer re168

implementation for 2006 and below.169170

UP education is becoming more inaccessible to poor students. UPB is more expensive than171

St. Louis University (800Php/unit). UPLB is more expensive than De La Salle Dasmarias.172

UP Mindanao is second most expensive in Southern Mindanao, next to Ateneo de Davao. UP173

default bracket more expensive than UST. Support from administration is minimal to zero.174

UPLB chancellor once banned promissory notes in lieu of meal allowances. Support from175


5/27


the government cannot be relied upon, too, as Roadmap for Public Higher Education Reform176

or RPHER of CHED wants 50% expenses sharing between government and SUCs by 2015.177

178

This inaccessibility therefore creates the illusion that most of the student population is rich.179

To note, headlines from the Philippine Collegian show that 1 in 3 Diliman UPCAT passers180

not in UP. 2 While it is a challenge to maintain the universitys public character amid181

financial issues, exposing the true implications of STS is one step towards it.182

183

3.41PM184

Open forum commences.185

186 Mr. Patrick Avance (from UPD Education Society) manifests that he is a self-supporting187student. He started his freshman year as bracket E1, became D, and now PD 40 (equivalent188

to C) under STS. He is hesitant to appeal because of the social media scare which leaves189

him with only two options: file leave of absence or LOA and save or transfer to affordable190

schools.191

192

SR Macuha responds that STS works against working students.193194 Mr. Avanceadds that parents' income still added in determining discount for self-supporting195

students.196

197 KASAMA sa UP NatlChair Gabral poses the question of who benefits from misbracketing to198the assembly.199

200 Natl Chair Gabral also manifests that STS still an income generation mechanism. Appealing201is not a solution. He had a chance to sit during UCSFA meetings which revolves around202

numbers game (two from administration, one student leader per campus) and is very much203

subjected upon the benevolence of administration.204205

Mr Gian Siapo (from UP Manila) manifests that UP dependents enjoy certain benefits,206including free tuition. However, UP dependents are still required to apply for STS.207

208

Mr Siapoinquires if STS affects the privilege of UP dependents.209210 Dr. Arao (faculty member from the College of Mass Communication) manifests that UP211

dependents should have same privilege and these are not covered by STS. Troubles in212

implementation per campus are experienced firsthand.213

214

In 2013, President Pascual formed a system-wide committee on admissions. Findings215include that STFAP affects admission of students; parents are discouraged because of216

expensive tuition despite STFAP. The committee published a recommendation including a217

uniform rate system similar to 12Php/unit of PUP or 300Php/unit of UP before STFAP218

implementation. But PAEP does not want uniform rate system for E2 beneficiaries;219

220

2See full article at philippinecollegian.org/1-in-3-diliman-upcat-passers-not-in-up


6/27


Many scholarships before as opposed today treat students as mere clients and STS221

functions like mall discount cards. He will push for STS discussions during the University222

Council (UC) meeting on Monday, 7 July, 9AM, Abelardo Hall. Physical presence is needed to223

pressure faculty members because of urgency;224

225

It is interesting to note that all student political parties are united against former President226

Abuevas STFAP unlike today. All were calling to reject STFAP since 1989 and against227

income generation scheme. Present students must improve previous campaign and take up228

the challenge as the future of the next generation is in todays hands.229

230 SR Macuhareiterates full support of faculty in the students struggles against STS.231232 Ms. France manifests that the call to junk STS is very clear. She proceeds to read the233

Manifesto of Unity Against Tuition Increase and State Abandonment of Education and234

Social Services3of STAND UP and urges all students to sign manifesto and form alliance235

against STS.236

237

There is a general consensus to adopt manifesto, form an alliance. SR Macuha asks informs238the body of the following dates:239

240

July 16 Alliance planning241

July 22 System-wide action against STS (along with nationwide action against242

corruption)243

July 28 Peoples SONA244

245 SR Macuhamanifests that there is a need to increase numbers. PUP succeeded in deferring246tuition fee increase because of collective action.247

248

Mr. Orly Putong(from Alay Sining) invites the body to attend the multi-sectoral forum on UP249situation on July 18. He manifests that the student body must launch massive campaigns at250

the start of classes.251

252 Ms. Francefurther adds that the same UC meeting on July 7 will vote for the 2012 Code of253Student Conduct (CSC). CSC contains repressive provisions such as breach of peace, one254

year recruitment ban, insulting resulting to disrespecting, among others. We must put255

pressure to campaign for the junking of STS and CSC.256

257 UPD USC Vice Chair JP delas Nieves and Councilor Pola Lamarca, with permission from SR258Macuha, presents USCs plan of action re STS.259

260 Councilor Lamarcainforms the audience of UPD USCs plan of action re STS application that261is to help during appeals process. They will focus on guiding students when making appeals.262

263 Vice Chair delas Nievesadds that the League of College Councils (LCC) met with 15 councils264present and reached a consensus to continue conducting survey and request documents265

3See full text of manifesto at bit.ly/stsmanifesto or attachment (Annex B).


7/27


8/27


SR acuha invites the audience to conduct a symbolic action against STS. The body313proceeds to Quezon Hall for the symbolic action.314

Prepared by

OSR Secretariat Sgd.)


9/27

Hubad na Katotohanan:Diskusyon hinggil sa tunay na mukha

ng Socialized Tuition System ng UP

Inihanda ni:

Neill John G. Macuha

Rehente ng mga Mag-aaral

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas

ANNEX A


10/27

dukasyon bilangatayang karapatan ng mamamayan

Ayon sa Artikulo XIV, Seksyon 1 ng Konstitusyon ngRepublika ng Pilipinas 1987:

The Stateshall protect and promote the right of allcitizens to quality educationat all levels, and shall takeappropriate steps to make such education accessible

to all.


11/27

dukasyon bilangatayang karapatan ng mamamayan

Nakasaad din sa Declaration of Policy ng RA 9500, o ang UP Charterof 2008, ang katulad na probisiyon:

The University of the Philippines is hereby declared as the nationaluniversity.

The State shall promote, foster, nurture and protect the right of allcitizens to accessible quality education. Toward this end, it is thepolicy of the State to strengthen the University of the Philippines as

the national university.


12/27

Subalit ito nga ba

ang kasalukuyangnagaganap sa UP?


13/27

Ano ang STS?

Ang Socialized Tuition System, mas kilala bilang STS, ayipinasa ng Board of Regents noong ika-13 Disyembre ng2013. Ito ang pumalit sa dating Socialized Tuition andFinancial Assistance Program (STFAP) ng unibersidad.

Nilalayon diumano nito na makapagbigay ng pagkakataon samgamag-aaral na di kayang magbayad ng buong halaga ngmatrikula.

Ibig sabihin, makakukuha ng diskwento sa matrikulaangisang mag-aaral batay sa kita, ari-arian, at iba pang mga mgapamantayan.


14/27

STFAP vs STS

Pinasimple sa STS ang mga batayan sa pagtutukoy ng halaga ngbabayarang matrikula ng mga mag-aaral.

STFAP STS

Nais na bracket ng mag-aaral Deklaradong kita ng pamilya

Deklaradong kita ng pamilya MORES 1SEC

Predicted na kita ng pamilya

Espesyal na mga indicator


15/27

STFAP vs STS

Source: UP Visayas OSA


16/27

STFAP vs STS

Tataas din sa STS ang tatanggaping stipend ng mga mag-aaral mulaPhp2,400/buwan patungong Php3,500/buwan. Ang kaibahan lamangng stipend sa kasalukuyang STS, maaari itong ibigay sa ibang mgaporma tulad ng dorm allowance, meal allowance, atbp.

Naka-digitize na rin ang aplikasyon sa STS, maging ang pagtutukoy ngdiskwento sa matrikula. Desentralisado na rin ang pagproproseso samga apila sa STS.


17/27

Iba pang mga pagbabagosa STS mula STFAP

Implementasyon ng iba pang mga hakbang upang sumuportasa STS:

Pagtatalaga ng isang system-level na opisiyal sa susuri saimplementasyon nito

Pagsasanay sa mga kawani ng ibatibang CU

Pinatinding diseminasyon ng impormasyon

Pag-iisyu ng mas detalyadong pamantayan at hakbang sa tamangpagpapatupad ng mga reporma at upang tulungan ang mgapatakarang pinapatupad sa kasalukuyan na di apektado ngpagbabago


18/27

Iba pang mga pagbabagosa STS mula STFAP

Implementasyon ng iba pang mga hakbang upang sumuportasa STS:

Pagpapatibay ng mga sistemang paniyak sa pamamagitan ng pag-audit oberipikasyon sa pagbubukas ng mga impormasyon batay sa random samplingat pagpapatupad ng mas mabigat na parusa sa maling deklarasyon

Mekanismo para sa regular na pag-aaral, monitoring at pagtatasa

Pagpapaunlad sa mga kaugnay na serbisyong pampinansya e.g. mgascholarship, need-based grants-in-aid, mas mataas na sahod sa SA, paratuwangan ang STS


19/27

Iba pang mga pag-aayossa implementasyon

Anumang kasalukuyang mga patakaran na hindiapektado ng pagbabago ng STS ay mananatili

Ang sinumang hindi makapagpasa ng aplikasyon saSTS ay awtomatikong mapapalagay sa No Discountna matrikula


20/27

Mga kritisimo at pagsusuri

Pinanatili ng STS ang katangian ng STFAP bilang isang mekanismoupang kumalap ng kita ang UP

Dahil ang estado ay patuloy na nabibigong magbigay ng sapat nabadyet para sa UP, pinapatupad ng pamantasan ang mga polisiya gayang STS. Ito ay kinikilala ng UP admin.

Parehong naka-angkla ang STFAP at STS sa argumentong walang sapatna pondo ang pamantasan, kaya kung sino man ang may kakayahangmagbayad ay siyang dapat pumasan sa mga di kayang magbayad.


21/27


Simula pa lamang, nais na nito magkalap ngsapat na kita upang punuan ang kakulangan sabadyet ng pamantasan.


22/27


Kung titingnan naman ang kasaysayan ng ibat-ibang porma ngsocialized tuition, matagumpay nitong pinahirap ang akses ng mgamag-aaral mula sa mababang katayuang sosyo-ekonomiko saedukasyong ibinabandila ng UP.

1989: Unang pagpapatupadmula 40 tungo 300/yunit

2007: Unang reporma sa STFAP300 tungo 1,000/yunit

2012: Bracket B Certification1,000 tungo 1,500/yunit sa mga batch 2011pataas

2014: STS1,500/yunit para sa lahat ng mag-aaral mula 2007 pataas


23/27

Mga piling headlineng Philippine Collegian

In the fifth year of TFI implementation, tuition loans surge by 380%(February 2011)

1 in 3 Diliman UPCAT passers not in UP (July 2011)

Number of students applying for tuition loans highest in 21 years(August 2011)


24/27

Mga piling headlineng Philippine Collegian

1 in every 10 STFAP applicants in UPD appeal for lower bracketing

(November 2011)

2 in 3 UPD students under STFAP also apply for loans (March 2012)

Number of UPD students with free tuition hit 6-year low (October2012)


25/27


Hindi pinapalawak ng STS ang akses ng mahihirap sa edukasyongipinagkakaloob ng pamantasan

Ayon sa pagsusuri ni Prof. Guillermo: Holding state subsidy as constant, higher revenue is necessary for larger

expenses. In other words, to subsidize more low-income students, you wouldhave to admit more high-income students and charge them high tuition rates.

This cannot be a sustainable scheme as population statistics reveal that a vastmajority of Filipino families consider themselves poor.


26/27


Alinsunod ang STS sa mga probisyon ng Roadmap to Philippine HigherEducation Reforms o RPHER na naglalayong unti-unting bawasan angsuportang pinansiyal ng gobyerno sa mga SUCs.

Wala nang ibang paraan upang tunay na maging mas demokratiko angakses nito kundi panatilihing accessible ang edukasyon sa UP at masabot-kaya ang matrikula.


27/27

Manifesto of Unity Against Tuition Increase and StateAbandonment of Education and Social ServicesFrom bit . ly/stsmanifesto

We, students from the University of the Philippines,believe that education is a right. That the state has theresponsibility of providing and ensuring quality andaccessible education to every Filipino.

We condemn the UP Administration for putting our rightto education in jeopardy by orchestrating a de factotuition hike through the Socialized Tuition System (STS).STS has made UP education more inaccessible to themajority of the Filipino youth by raising the base tuitionfrom PhP1,000 to PhP1,500 per unit. The nationalaverage tuition rate is PhP 573.76 per unit and PhP1,143 for NCR. UP s base tuition is already beyond thenational and regional average. (1) The peoples dailyminimum wage of P466 cannot even hope to pay for UPtuitions rate, alongside the hikes in basic commoditiesand services.

The UP administration is turning a blind eye to the harshreality --- tuition loans have reached a 24-year high; 1out of 3 UPCAT passers are not in UP; and almost 1,218students who took a loan were not able to pay in time forthe release of grades during the 1st semester of AY2013-2014. (2) UP has now reneged on its promise ofaccessible education and will only worsen the situationwith the STS.

We believe that the well-touted process efficiency of theSTS only serves the interest of the administration. Thatthe oversimplified forms are actually detrimental to thestudents. By checking just the students supposed

assets, instead of contextualizing them against theirliabilities and actual living conditions, the STS putsalmost everyone in the no discount bracket --- tosqueeze out more income from them. The STS cannotbe reformed anymore, and any reform would only serveto the sophistication of income generation and studentoppression. UP should be problematizing how to makeUP education affordable to every Filipino, and not how toprove that everyone is a millionaire.

We challenge the UP administration to rescind theimplementation of the socialized tuition scheme,alongside a number of anti-student policies such as the

forced-loan and enrollment-purging system. UP must

implement a tuition roll back (subject to further studieson how much), to immediately give relief to our parentsand students from the incessant price hikes ocommodities and services. A tuition roll back would bring

students who stopped, due to financial constraints, backinto studying.

We challenge the UP administration to join us in our fighfor higher budget for education and social servicesBeing cash-strapped does not justify pledging allegianceto the Aquino administrations plan of abandoning andcommercializing state universities and colleges (SUCthrough the Roadmap to Public Higher EducationReforms (RPHER) program. Transforming publiceducation and utilities into income generatingenterprises will only be detrimental to our countrysnational development. UP and other SUCs should be

further developed as research universities to support acomprehensive plan for national industrialization. Withthis, the pro-commercialization RPHER program, shouldbe scrapped.

We are calling for a tuition hike moratorium for all higheeducation institutions; an immediate stop to unjust andexorbitant fees imposed on students and other pro-commercialization income generating projects. Wedemand the re-prioritization of the national budget toeducation and basic social services instead of fundingcorrupt and ineffective government officials and projects.We condemn the Aquino administration for having aneoliberal stance on distribution of public goods and

services. The administrations no-control policyalongside the Public-Private Partnership program, seeksto gradually pull out government support and let theprofiteering sector take over --- at the expense of steepprices and further inaccessibility of supposedly free andaffordable services.

We, Iskolar ng Bayan, will rise for our right to educationand fuse our struggle with the different sectors of oursociety. Our fight for quality and accessible educationwill never succeed if not integrated with the everydayplight of the ordinary people. We will ensure that alforms of oppression will meet a strong and united

resistance, until the complete victory of the people.

NO TO TUITION INCREASE! JUNK STS!FIGHT FOR EDUCATION! ROLL BACK THE TUITION!

NO TO COMMERCIALIZATION OF EDUCATION!

(1) Based on the 2014 data from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as compiled by the National Union ofStudents in the Philippines (NUSP)(2) Data from Office of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS) and the Philippine Collegian

ANNEX B

3 july minutes osr grievance consultation re sts

Documents