July 12, 2011 SAVE MPSPC: CONTINUE THE PROTEST WHILE LEARNING The League of Progressive Students, a national democratic youth organization in the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College calls for the students and faculty to go back to school and continue the protest at the same time. It has been almost a month of continuous struggle for our democratic rights, not to count the earlier years when this started, and we as sectors of the school have shown so much of what was expected of us. We have done countless ways to defend our democratic rights to consultation, to transparency, to information and accountability. We have launched signature campaigns, march around town, went to Manila and Baguio city and went to vigil for several weeks already. We are not saying that we have done enough. No, because the resolution of our legitimate issues is far from us. The books have not yet surfaced, the exorbitant fees have not yet been scrapped, justice from harassment and intimidation has not yet attained. The investigation team that CHED formed were on their way, yet there are a lot of misconceptions of that needed to be clarified. And now, we are faced with the call of a total shutdown of MPSPC until Dr. Dacyon resigns. As we contemplate with what happened and on the ongoing struggle, we appeal to each and everybody to assess the situation and most of all be critical on all ideas and suggestions being surfaced. We should ask ourselves which ideas serve the interest of the majority of the students, faculty and parents? Which ideas are rational and will help us address our problems? Where exactly are we going and how much are we willing to give? How are we going to get the majority of students to fully understand our issues so that they would in return be willing enough to sacrifice as much? We should also ask our parents, if it’s okay for them that we will not be able to learn for another next few weeks more after already paying for this semester’s fees. After all, we are all accountable to them. Lastly, are the leaders of the protests willing to risk the interests and welfare of the majority of the students, faculty and parents? Let us put in mind that MPSPC, despite of the crisis, is still an institution of learning. Our parents already sacrificed a lot just to bring their children to school as they see education is an inheritance that cannot be taken away from an individual. Quality education is also viewed by many as a way to achieve better life. However, with its total shut down, these aspirations cannot be achieved. Even the scheduled students’ affairs such as editorial exams for Ap-Apaway, accreditation of student organizations and student council elections have not yet been conducted. For the students, the student organizations are venues where the students can be trained as leaders. All of these will be put to waste if the school will shut down. Moreover the shutting down of MPSPC will not resolve our problems especially that it will jeopardize the investigation. Let us remember that what we all want is for the truth to be out in the open and justice to be achieved. This call is no longer rational and does not serve the interests and welfare of the students, faculty and parents. As students of the school, we are very much concern not only of our welfare and future but most of all of our fellow students and our parents who have sacrificed for our education. We would also like to clarify that the League of Progressive Students’ position on not supporting the call of our school’s shutting down is not a sign of losing faith on our struggle or a sign that we are Pro administration or Pro Dr. Dacyon. First and foremost, our position is for the students, our faculty and our parents’ welfare. We are still encouraging not only the students but the community as well to continue its struggle on quality education while we face our studies as students. As past experiences of students’ struggles worldwide thought us, victories were better achieved without the disruption of peace and order, to include the schedule of classes. To reiterate, going back does not mean the protest should stop. Instead it should continue every day, every weekend by using various forms like a picket or barricade in front of the school during class breaks, wearing shirts of unified colours to show our unity and solidarity, massive education campaign to the wider students, faculty and community members and forging a unity with them, among others. We could also submit petition letters to concerned agencies and we must be vigilant in monitoring the result of these petitions and the process and result of the investigation. We must be active in participating in the investigation process. These cannot be done once MPSPC shuts down. In all of our decisions, plans and actions, we must always include the majority, if not all, of students’ welfare not the interests of the few. They should be part of all these democratic processes. We will go back to class to continue the fight for our rights. It will never falter, as long as our fists stay high in the air, we take this professionally and our numbers double. SAVE OUR MPSPC, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS GO BACK TO SCHOOL! RESPECT ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS! ASSERT OUR RIGHT TO LEARN! NO TO POOR EDUCATION, EDUCATION FOR THE POOR! ________________________________________________________ Want to SAVE MPSPC? (1) Be a signatory and write a statement of support (2) Join educational discussions, sharing and assessment with other students (3) Help monitor the ongoing investigation (4) Join consultations with other sectors and stakeholders of the students and the community (5) Join in the search for truth, accountability and transparency