VARIOUS youth groups submitted a petition paper to the Deparment of Education and the Commission on Higher Education in Region VII demanding action on concerns facing the education sector.

In line with the International Students’ Day, education rights group Rise for Education Alliance-Cebu, together with the National Union of Students of the Philippines-Visayas and College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Cebu submitted a “Ligtas na Balik Eskwela” petition paper. The petition includes the groups’ 9-point demands.

These demands include a comprehensive Covid19 response such as free mass testing and relief assistance, improvement of school facilities and resources such as school clinics, involvement of stakeholders in consultations and planning of school policies, a moratorium on tuition and other fees, free services and assistance, sufficient funding for state universities and public schools, revised and adjusted curriculum, and comprehensive medical and economic plans for workers and PUV drivers.

Addressing these issues would lead to a “safe and gradual reopening of schools,”  R4E-Cebu said.

The petition was signed by 300 different stakeholders in the education sector in Central Visayas.

“Students, teachers, and advocacy groups have long forewarned the dire conditions of the education sector and how these are worsened in this unprecedented crisis,” R4E-Cebu spokesperson Angel Mendiola said.

R4E-Cebu cited the increasing number of dropouts and mental health cases which it said was caused by government’s negligence. As of September 16, DepEd has recorded 2.3 million dropouts this school year.

R4E-Cebu, NUSP-Visayas, and CEGP-Cebu are set to meet with CHED-VII Regional Director Maximo C. Aljibe on Friday, November 20, through an online dialogue. They are scheduled to meet with DepEd on November 23.