KABATAAN Partylist reiterated its stand in solidarity with students calling on Commission on Higher Education to protect the youth’s right to education by rejecting applications and imposing tuition and other fee increase moratorium for the following academic year.

Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel already filed House Resolution No. 9 urging CHED to do so, yet no response has been made yet by commission officials.

“Noong 2020 ay tumindig si CHED Chair De Vera na hindi raw mandato ng CHED ang pigilan ang TOFI, pero hindi ba kung tinakdaan ng administrayon ngayon bilang pangunahing layunin ang learning recovery ay dapat magpasya ang ahensya para sa kapakanan ng estudyante at hindi ng negosyante?,” asked the group.

“Hind babangon ang bayan muli kung tinatalikuran ng CHED ang mandato nitong tiyakin na abot-kaya ang edukasyon kahit sa mga ‘di kayang magbayad.”

The group reminded CHED on its mandate to ensure quality higher education is accessible to all who seek it particularly those who may not be able to afford it.

The organization also argued part of what prevents CHED from fulfilling its mandate is the Education Act of 1982, which the group described as a landmark policy that opened the floodgates for commercialization, deregulation, and of course TOFI in schools nationwide at all levels.

It said it is high time to probe its lasting impact and fully discard the outdated orientation of the law which privileges profit.