by Rappler.com Posted on 03/15/2014 8:22 AM |Updated 03/15/2014 9:19 PM

WISHLIST. Protest groups call on President Aquino to act on education issues one year after Kristel Tejada's death. Photo by Thomas Benjamin Roca

MANILA, Philippines Students and teachers on Friday, March 14, commemmorated the first death anniversary of University of the Philippines (UP) student Kristel Tejada by organizing a rally at the Mendiola Peace Bridge and presenting a list of needed reforms in the higher education sector.

Tejada, a behavioral science freshman in UP Manila, committed suicide on March 15, 2013, allegedly after being forced to file a leave of absence (LOA) for missing the payments for her tuition loans more than once. (READ: Remembering Kristel)

Through a memorandum, they called on President Benigno Aquino III to act on the following education issues:

At the height of public outrage over Tejada's death, the UP Manila administration said it did everything to help Tejada. The constituent unit also lifted the "no late payment" policy 4 days after her death. (READ: UP Manila suspends 'no late payment policy')

Her death sparked more debates on policy issues concerning the affordability of higher education in UP.

The controversial Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) also went under review and reform, but UP President Alfredo Pascual denied the process was a reaction to the suicide incident.

Leaders of other groups also signed the memorandum, including those from the National Union of Students of the Philippines, Kabataan Partylist, Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP and Alliance of Concerned Teachers Partylist. with reports from April Anne Benjamin and Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/Rappler.com

Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)

Originally posted here:
Dear PNoy: An education wishlist