Photo by Erika Sauler
MANILA, Philippines–Students of the UP Manila on Monday covered the Oblation statue with black cloth as they protested the school’s “no late payment” tuition policy and the death of Kristel Tejada.
Tejada, a 16-year-old Behavioral Sciences freshman of UP Manila, committed suicide on Friday after she filed a leave of absence for failure to pay tuition.
“This is a call to stand up and strike for education and justice,” UP Manila student council chair Mariz Zubiri said.
Zubiri urged President Aquino to declare a moratorium on tuition increases and called on the government to provide free and quality education.
She also called on UP to junk the ‘‘no late payment’’ tuition policy and hold accountable the administration officials responsible for the implementation of the policy.
“Education is a right and it shouldn’t be sold,” she said.
After the demonstration, the students marched to the chapel of the Philippine General Hospital to hear mass for Tejada sponsored by the student council.