CEGP Slams Suspension of Quezon City Students Over Blog
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) today cried foul over the suspension of four students from Quezon City Science High School as punishment for publishing a blog critical of the school’s principal and administration.
The blog, http://scientiaetvirtus.multiply.com, contains articles and images against QCSHS Pres. Zenaida P. Sadsad’s policies as well as the students’ gripes over irregular lunch hours, required subjects, among others.
The suspension of the four unidentified students also reportedly brought on the closure of QCSHS’ school publications, The Electron and The Banyuhay.
The school paper’s faculty adviser, Mr. Rex San Diego, who is deemed close to the students, was reported to have been axed from his position by Pres. Sadsad.
“It is disturbing to learn that high school students, in their very young
age, are being subjected to this kind of campus repression, their right to freedom of speech and expression undermined,” said CEGP national president Vijae Alquisola.
Alquisola added, “The students’ complaints are valid and legitimate, and their putting up the blog merely a venue to air out their demands and democratic rights. Was the QCSHS administration so threatened by a bunch of high school kids that it resorted to the outright violation of their rights?
In these times, young people should be encouraged to voice out their views, not sanctioned and censured into silence.”
Alquisola also said that the emotional, social and psychological effects of the suspension on the students should also be considered. “It must surely be a blow to the young ones to be humiliated and treated in such a way. It also sends a wrong and chilling message to other students that in high school, freedom of speech and expression are not recognized.”
The CEGP also called on the Department of Education to ‘intervene in the overkill disciplinary measure’.
“While the DepEd issued a statement addressing school faculty and
administrations not to be ‘onion-skinned’ to criticisms, it falls short of
acting on to the injustice done to the students,” Alquisola said.
The CEGP is mulling over filing a complaint in behalf of the students before the DepEd and Congress over the suspension of the students and the closure of the school papers. ###
*Reference:*
*Vijae Alquisola, 09162034402*
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