As a student, parent, or supporter of USEK Kaslik, you are signing this petition to encourage the administration of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), to reverse their decision to increase tuition rates this year.

The new policy increases the price of one credit by $60, which calculates to a 21% overall tuition increase. Students will be expected to pay an extra $2,000 per year.

“We have been surprised, during the peak of the economic crisis in Lebanon, by this unjust decision by the university administration,” a statement released by the students said.

To watch the student protest on MTV and LBC, click here.

Students are upset because they are unable to afford current tuition fees, even when they work two or three jobs in some cases, they say. They also complain of special privileges of relatives to Maronite Catholic priests, who receive discounted rates to attend USEK.

In an interview with LBCI, one student said that Christians are constantly encouraged to preserve their land, but this decision will “encourage us to do the opposite and sell land to pay for tuition.”

The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) is a private Catholic higher education institution, which was established by the Lebanese Maronite Order (LMO) in 1961.