11:58 am - Wed, Jul 13, 2011

General Plan of Action - Alyansa ng mga Aktibong Kabataan ng UP Mindanao

The University has had a long history of struggles to defend and advance the concerns and interests of the students and the people. As time passed, the University has forgotten its social obligation to the Filipino people: to provide quality and accessible education caused by the state’s neglect to invest in the intellect of the Filipino youth.

Now, because of the rising cost of education, the University’s public character continues to diminish. The UP community continues to struggle against commercialization, tuition and other fee increases and political repression. That is why we are in need of student leaders who are unafraid to stand up for our democratic rights and interests.

The Alyansa ng mga Aktibong Kabataan ng UP Mindanao (ANAK UPMin) is committed to promote and defend the basic interests of the students by providing services that will reinforce the development and excellence of the Iskolar ng Bayan being molded not only for high standards of academic excellence, but notably with a deep sense of national consciousness.

It believes that the campus issues faced by UP Mindanao and the entire UP system are a microcosm of the internal linkage of socio-political, economic, and political issues of the country. Hence, ANAK UPMin recognizes the role of the Iskolar ng Bayan in being catalysts of change who will work with other sectors of the UP community and the society to create a nation that recognizes the democratic rights and welfare of the people.

PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP

Lobby for a regular and genuine admin-student consultation in order to address student concerns Spearhead the drafting of the Magna Carta of Students’ Rights of UP Mindanao based from student demands.

This will be done through a comprehensive student-administration dialogue and consultation Ensure that no administration policy should be drafted and implemented without prior, proper and genuine consultation with the students, faculty, staff and the community Conduct a regular and genuine consultation with the students through a General Assembly or Student Summit by tapping organizations and bloc leaders.

This will serve as venue to have an updated report on student concerns and interests, which will guide further actions of the USC DEVELOPING FULL POTENTIAL OF ISKOLAR NG BAYAN Conduct information-dissemination through print, video and new media, and socio-political discussions to develop social consciousness, rights awareness and responsiveness among the students Enhance leadership skills of UP Mindanao students, prioritizing freshmen, by conducting and supporting Leadership Trainings and Seminar (LTS), and VolCorps trainings Continue the nationalist traditions that define UP Encourage student development through participation in the activities of UP.

The USC should ensure creation of new programs and continuation of traditional activities (freshmen orientation, DULA, Kasadya, Tatak UPMin, College Fairs) that will showcase the skills and abilities of students Support the reestablishment and creation of crucial and relevant organizations to develop sportsmanship, creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation of UP Mindanao students (cultural groups, debate teams, varsity teams etc)

ADVANCING THE GAINS OF OUR STRUGGLE. DEFENDING OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS.

Assess the new procedural adjustments of the Socialized Tuition Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), in support of the year-long study to be conducted by the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) probing notably on its effect on the students Push for greater state subsidy for education in recognition of the university’s need to function effectively as an academic institution Create effective campaigns which is reflective of the interest of the modern generation that will advance the students’ struggle against Budget Cut, Commercialization of Education (as manifested in the Tuition and Miscellaneous Fees Increases) and Campus Repression Protect the existing student representation in all standing committees: from the Board of Regents to University and College Student Councils (CHSS Student Council, CSM-SC, ManCom), and lobby for student representation in Executive Committees.

Request for a copy of the financial report of the University notably on A.Y 2010-2011 to seek transparency on fees: tuition fee, miscellaneous fee, laboratory fee, etc. Assess the fees paid by the students, and push for the scraping of exorbitant, redundant and dubious fees Lobby for additional facilities and services such as free access to university facilities and new academic buildings Assess the recognition process of organizations and make amendments to be reflective of what is essential to these organizations Building stronger alliances for the students and the people Continuing the council’s affiliation with prestigious student council alliances, namely, the National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP), Katipunan ng Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP), and Kabataan Partylist.

In this manner, student concerns are directly elevated to the appropriate bodies (ie. Commission on Higher Education, House of Representatives, UP System Adminstration)

Promote UP Mindanao by organizing events outside the campus Integrate with other sectors of the society (e.g., women, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisher folks, etc.) through basic mass integration (BMI), community outreach programs, etc. in recognition of the role of the Iskolars ng Bayan in nation building and genuine social change Uplift the status of women and LGBT by eliminating any gender discrimination through helpful discussions and propaganda Strengthen links between the students with other members of the UP Mindanao community including the residents along the land of the university.