Got a problem? Students can now file case online

MANILA, Philippines–Students who think their rights are being trampled upon can now file a complaint online with the launching of the Students’ Rights And Welfare (STRAW) Desk.

According to the National Youth Commission (NYC), the STRAW desk is dedicated to addressing and probing students’ concerns.

For those with grievances, they can visit www.strawdesk.com to access the NYC complaint center and click on the “file a complaint” icon. To protect them from being harassed, their identity will be kept confidential.

The program was launched in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“Ultimately the goal of this programs is for schools to uphold the rights of and promote [the] welfare [of] students,” NYC Undersecretary Leon Flores III said at a press conference yesterday.

He cited some of these violations which ranged from tuition hikes, fraternity-related violence, security lapses, “the no-permit, no-exam policy,” to discrimination.

Heart Diño, the newly-elected transgender chair of the student council of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City, cited the “gentleman’s policy” in some schools which bars male students from wearing make-up, as well as fraternity-related violence and unnecessary tuition hikes.

“Everyone must have access to education without any discrimination of any kind,” she said.

The NYC also took note of recent incidents of violence on the UP Los Baños campus which led to the death of an agriculture student weeks ago.

Angelo Gutierrez of the UP Los Baños student council said these issues were among the concerns which would be addressed by the STRAW desk.

Those who want to file a complaint with the desk can either be high school or college students.

Their concern will then be investigated and verified in partnership with the government agencies concerned and the school in question.

The NYC said it aims to resolve the complaint in three months’ time which is the usual time frame given to government bodies conducting a probe.

Complainants can also check the status of their case on the web site. The student who filed the case need not fear as their identity will be protected even if they choose to include their name in the complaint.