Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today extended his congratulations to students, teachers and local officials in the Cebu community for the successful campaign to keep the University of the Philippines Cebu High School open.

U.P. High School Cebu is now accepting applications for admission to first year high school SY 2010-2011. The High School Admission Test (HSAT) will be on March 20, 2010. Last day for filing applications is on March 18, 2010, Thursday.

“This is one example of how a united community can assert the rights of its youth and members. We thank and congratulate the solidarity of students, concerned alumni, teachers and professors and our local officials in the success of this campaign,” Palatino said.

Kabataan Partylist’s regional chapter in Cebu spearheaded campaigns and rallies against the non-closure of UP Cebu high since January.

Palatino also filed House Resolution 1569 urging the University of the Philippines (UP) administration to “continue the full and unhampered operation of UP High School based in UP Cebu College in recognition of its outstanding service to poor but deserving students and to the Cebu community as a whole”.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, and Cebu Reps. Raul del Mar (North District, Cebu City) and Pablo John Garcia (3rd District, Cebu Province) co-authored the HR.

UP Cebu planned to “suspend the acceptance of applicants for UP Cebu’s High School Admission Test (HSAT) on March 6, 2010 pending the resolution of the proposal to phase out the high school gradually” as per a memorandum dated January 14, 2010 by the Office of the Dean, and a letter from Dean Enrique Avila to UP President Emerlinda Roman dated January 8, 2010.

The dean’s letter proposed the phasing out of the high school on grounds that “the priorities set by the UP System and the new UP Charter of 2008…are no longer in the position to sustain ably the implementation of the high school…(and) cannot adequately supply the faculty (it) requires.”

Palatino said, “Education is a right of our youth and should be given utmost priority in the budget. The reasoning that UP Cebu is unable to sustain operations of the high school is unacceptable and a clear mis-prioritization.”

The letters were forwarded to Palatino’s office by the UP Cebu High School Alumni Association Inc. ###

Below are the texts from the said memoranda received via email:

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14 January 2010

MEMORANDUM No. EMA-2010-013

TO:  Prof. Rosario Y. Montaño – Chair, PED

FROM: The Office of the Dean

Subject:  Suspension of the acceptance of HSAT applicants.

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On the basis of (1) the faculty resources you require for the operation of the High School; (2) the profile of the current faculty complement servicing it; (3) the refocusing of the College’s academic programs and plans; and (4) the priorities set by the UP System and the new UP Charter of 2008, we are no longer in the position to sustain ably the implementation of the high school. It will be an injustice to continue operating it if we can not even adequately supply the faculty you require. With this in mind, you are enjoined to suspend the acceptance of applicants for the proposed High School Admission Test (HSAT) to be administered on 6 March 2010 pending the resolution of the proposal to phase out the high school gradually.

For your appropriate action.

(SGD) Enrique M. Avila
Dean

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Excerpt from Dean Avila’s letter to Pres. Emerlinda Roman dated 8 January 2010

Dear President Roman,

… the College shall soon propose the gradual phase out of the high school effective first semester of school year 2010-2011. With this, the high school admission test proposed for March 2010 will consequently be cancelled.

Until that letter came to light, I had thought that the College could already concentrate on important matters and focus on worthier goals this year. Since I have clarified the important points raised by Prof. Baltazar, may I now continue concentrating on the drafting of our proposals — the College’s bid to (1) become a constituent university and (2) phase out the high school.

Sincerely yours,
(SGD) Enrique M. Avila
Dean
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