We, students, stakeholders and alumni of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila are calling to junk the proposal to remove BS Social Work from the list of course offerings in the upcoming PLM admission.

Republic Act 4373 states that “social work is the profession which is primarily concerned with organized social service activity aimed to facilitate and strengthen basic social relationships and the mutual adjustment between individuals and their social environment for the good of the individual and of the society.” It is therefore to this interest, that PLM, a state university which pledges to even out the academic playing field to deserving but underprivileged students in Manila, should uphold the persistence of education and training for future social workers. It should be noted that PLM and the social work profession share a common endeavour – that is to provide an opportunity for marginalized voices be heard and become productive members of society.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) listed BS Social Work as one of the in-demand priority college courses until 2018. The Department has been consistently performing well in the past in terms of board examination passers, notwithstanding some minor problems in available faculty positions and number of enrolees. Most registered social workers from PLM have been highly successful in their respective fields, and in fact, hold key positions in national and social welfare agencies and organizations.

Whilst the university has been attributing its consideration on the relatively low number of social work enrolees every year, it is worth taking into account that PLM social work student enrolees were among the biggest in number, among universities offering BS Social Work in Metro Manila. This is evidenced by the huge level of student participation in the Junior Social Work Association of the Philippines (JSWAP).

And while we admit that most of the enrolees came from the ranks of “reconsidered for admission” students for PLM admission test, we also know that being able to help these “reconsidered students” find a suitable career path, enabling them to be successful in the board exams, and thereby allowing them an opportunity for a good start in their professional lives are but testaments of the Department’s good education paradigm.

Are these evidences still not enough to allow Social Work to stay in PLM?

We are social workers. We have, for decades, been working to ensure that we provide people with opportunities and resources. By closing down the institution that has shaped us, you will curtail opportunities for young people, who like us, would want to create a difference.

“The child becomes largely what he (sic) is taught; hence we must watch what we teach and how we live” (Jane Addams, founder of Hull House, social worker).