Students walk out of maritime school

More than 100 scholars of the Seacrest Maritime Foundation of Southwestern University (SWU) staged a walkout last Tuesday   to protest  “exorbitant” fees allegedly imposed on them.

The students said they were paying high fees even if they are enrolled  under  a “study now, pay later” scheme.

They showed assessment slips for items like P5,000 for food,  P250  for a college fund and a  P2,000 surety that they have to pay four times every semester.

A summary shows that each student has to pay P480,000 in school fees. The amount covers four years of  tuition, health care, books and reviews.

Jessie Narte, 23 and a third year student, said when they were recruited  in high school, they were promised four sets of uniforms but were only given one.

He said fees were collected from them without explanation from the school administration.

“We just want an explanation and restructuring of the payment,” he said.

He said most of the students who joined the walkout will move to other maritime schools.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colminares met with the students yesterday morning and said Congress would investigate the school’s tuition rates.

“We would continue to provide (students) with legal counseling or advice,” Colminares said.

The students walked out of the SWU last Tuesday afternoon and stayed in St. Alphonsus College for the night.

They also complained that they were made to  mix cement for building projects inside the school.

Maritime school administrators said this was part of their quasi-military training.

“If you had issues, why didn’t you direct it to us? If we had known about it, we would have acted on your concerns,” said Gigi Aznar.

Andrew Aznar, Seacrest Maritime president, said the money they collect  is lower compared to tuition fees in other maritime schools.

“That cost is very low, and they are not obliged to pay in full when they are still studying,” Aznar told reporters.

He said since the foundation was established last 2007, they  sent poor students to school.

“We gave them everything. We are after providing quality education so we could help them,” Aznar said.

He said  they have 700 students in the program.

Students undergo a qualifying exam to avail of the scholarship. Aznar said they accept only  200 students annually.

Seacrest partners with international shipping companies to provide work for SWU graduates. Once they are employed abroad, the students start to pay their tuition.

Aznar said he would have difficulty endorsing for work  students who joined the protest.

“They were disrespectful and lost the values of the regiment,” he said.