Image Credit: philSTAR

There can be no greater tragedy like the UP Manila Student Suicide Case where a student raring to study, learn and finish education was told to take a leave of absence for failing to settle financial obligations with the school. Although this is a scene repeated many times over in other schools and universities in the country, not all cases will be involving a student in such precarious emotional state.  With allusions to family problems coming from the school authorities themselves, the requested leave of absence was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back for someone who probably saw finishing education as the sole saving factor in her life.

The Student

The freshman college student of UP Manila who took her own life by drinking silver cleaner left a letter and said she was sorry for doing it.  Her family was reportedly undergoing extreme financial difficulties ever since her father was laid-off from work.  Reports of family rifts are not surprising since everyone who has gone through the same stress and difficulty can relate to the realities of life.

Even in such condition however, the student prevailed academically which should explain why she was accepted at UP Manila, an educational institution that even the moneyed students who can afford to enroll elsewhere would give a leg or an arm to be accepted.  UP is a state university and being accepted and graduating from it is considered an honor not only for the student but for the family as well.  Graduating with honors from such a prestigious university could open employment opportunities that will not be available to everyone.

The School

UP Manila, being one of the campuses of the prestigious state university University of the Philippines accepts students according to specific guidelines since its budget comes from the government.  It has designated tuition brackets which categorizes students according to payment capability.  It has instituted ways to help students undergoing financial difficulties primarily through loans and granting of payment extensions when requested.

The filing of the LOA or the leave of absence is a necessary step required by the school for students who fail to pay their tuition fee on time.  It is said to be a way to ensure that the student can easily come back to the university if and when financial ability already permits continuance of studies.  There are two existing schemes being questioned today – the “no late payment” and the “forced leave of absence” which are considered anti-student.

The Circumstances

The student was asked to file a leave of absence for failing to pay her school payable in time. She was reported to have felt so bad about having to return her ID and communicated through text to her friends and teacher the adverse effect of her forced LOA.  This followed an unapproved subsequent loan application apparently because it was already mid-semester.

Under UP’s Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program, the student was required to pay an estimated  P 300.00 for every unit which amounted to about P 7,500.00 per semester, being categorized under Bracket D.  This amount is admittedly low compared to tuition fees in exclusive schools and universities that run to hundreds of thousands.  Still, it was an amount that the student’s family found hard to produce.  There were reported efforts to convert the student to Bracket E which would have granted her free education.  School authorities say that the student failed to furnish them with the documentary requirements to complete the change of categorization.

My Say

What do we have here?  A bright student who as her father described her as willing to go to school only eating P 20.00 worth of candies the whole day just to ensure that she will have enough to attend school every day…  A school who says it has no choice but to implement its rules and regulations for the benefit of the whole school community… An educational system that does not provide realistic options even to the most gifted student…

I have no sympathies for students who waste their opportunities for my sympathies go to their parents.  My heart goes out however to students who are so much willing to study but are being continually prevented by financial difficulties.  I shudder at the thought that my own children will not have any chance if by some cruel twist of fate I would be unable to support their education.  Many people have taken their own lives in an effort to leave a lasting message. Finding a solution to this issue will give hope to all our children and I hope the message of this UP Manila Student Suicide Case will not be lost after several days and remain unsolved.