Student Councils, as the premiere youth formation in colleges and universities, stand in solidarity with the people directly and indirectly affected by the Covid-19 crisis, which is a factor mainly of a system that perpetuates the commercialization of both education and health services. The country’s ill-preparedness to the situation gave rise to the inability of our educational curriculum to adjust to the abrupt situation, unprioritized public health care, and weak policies protecting our workers, among others.

The incompetence of national public officials in responding to health crises also worsens the situation. Instead of focusing their attention and resources to solve the socio-economic reasons that underpin the crisis, they are instead prioritizing draconian measures of imposing restrictive lockdown measures. Workers, public transport operators and drivers, and small-scale vendors, among others are affected by this community lockdown without any plans on providing necessary and enough benefits for them.

Student Councils, as representatives of the student body, should therefore remain true to their duties by continuing to struggle and fight for the interest of not just the students but also the people that shape their communities. Thus, as students we fight for these 5 demands:

1. SUSPEND ONLINE CLASSES AND ENSURE INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVE

Affected cities, especially the National Capital Region (NCR) announced its suspension of classes until April 14, 2020. College and University classes proposed the shift to an online mode of learning. Although we acknowledge that this alternative would protect the students from exposure and spread of the virus, there are still limitations wherein students do not have stable internet connection or even devices to conduct the online classes. Thus, we  call on the suspension of online classes for there are hindrances in terms of resources and it would also be unfair for individuals who need special attention to learning. It may impede the quality of education, especially to subjects and curriculum that require access to facilities, laboratories and other school equipment.

We also call on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to release a uniform and pro-student guideline on possible alternative mechanisms that schools should implement after the suspension to ensure the quality of education.

2. STOP COLLECTION OF SCHOOL FEES AND IMPENDING TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES INCREASE

Student Councils stand in solidarity with the call to stop collection of fees and impending tuition and other school fees increase. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) should freeze all school fees collection and proposed tuition increases for the next academic year. We urge the CHED to release a memorandum on moratorium on school fees collection and impending tuition and other school fees increase as this may help in bringing relief in the condition of possible price hikes on basic commodities and the standing effects of the health crisis. The increase in tuition and other school fees is not only unethical in a time of social and economic crisis but is also an explicit way of exposing themselves as institutions that use education for business.

The CHED must consider as well the refunding of unused school fees during the time of suspension and must ensure that there will be no collection of fees on possible semestral extension. Moreover, we strongly oppose the “No Permit, No Exam” policy that may put in place for it hinders the democratic rights of students to an accessible education. 

Educational institutions must always ensure the welfare of the students as the primary stakeholder of any schools. Thus, assistance and aid must also be provided to students who are caught in the lockdown and who have families that are economically affected by the health crisis.

3. SUSTAIN TEACHING AND NON – TEACHING STAFF SALARIES

The suspension should not affect the expected salaries of our teaching and non – teaching staff because they also need to sustain their basic necessities during the time of community quarantine. Councils unite to struggle for the strict implementation of labor rights in times such as this and ensure that the health crisis will not be used as an excuse to disregard the rights of the people.

4. PRESERVE STUDENT REPRESENTATION THROUGH GENUINE STUDENT COUNCILS

Student Councils unite in ensuring representation of the student body especially that we are now again facing a time wherein we need to take a stand. The one month suspension of classes should not compromise Student Council elections in colleges and universities through online elections. It will not be feasible to convene electoral boards, student council candidates, and the student body during this time. If needed, student council elections may be postponed to ensure quality of student campaigns, demands, and general program of actions. 

Postponement of Student Council elections should not also compromise representation of the student body. Thus, student councils also unite in ensuring that there will be no vacancies on the representation of the student body that may permit intervention of the school administration.

5. STOP RAIL-ROADING ANTI-STUDENT, REPRESSIVE POLICIES

The mobilization of the students was paralyzed for the meantime due to the lockdown. Simultaneously, House Speaker Alan Cayetano proposed a ridiculous, unfair, and undemocratic process in Congress when it comes to deliberating the pending bills that also concern the students. With this, Councils remain vigilant in the possible railroading of the state of anti-student policies, such as the Mandatory Civil Service Training Course (CSTC) or the duplicate version of Mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) whose history is filled with corruption, violence, and blind obedience. 

We are also wary of the impending passage of the Anti – Terrorism Bill which lays grounds for the trampling of civil and political rights of student leaders who voice out their concerns and criticisms to the anti-people policies of the government. Student Councils reiterate our stand against the Anti – Terrorism Bill for this violates the academic freedom of individuals in public and private educational institutions.

These demands represent the unity of students in response to the health crisis we are facing right now, which encompass our solidarity with the demands of other sectors of the society. We salute and we will continue to support front line workers, especially those in the health sector who continue to risk their lives in this fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Interns are also working around the clock helping professionals in this endeavor. We are calling for higher budget allocation to our basic social rights such as education, transportation, and health services. We also demand that the billions of confidential funds of the Office of the President be transferred instead to the financing of mass testing, community disinfection, and other health measures.

We condemn the solution mismatch of the government which imposed the militarization of communities instead of providing a more scientific and medical approach in defeating the pandemic. 

Students and all basic sectors of our society demand for more comprehensive and pro-people short-term and long-term solutions from the government. Our basic social rights should not be treated as business and should not be stepped on even as we confront today's worsening case of Covid-19.