Salazar: Pay up and return to class

CEBU, Philippines - The president of the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SC-SIT) said that the school is willing to readmit the remaining 19 students it earlier dropped in Madridejos Campus for joining the town contingent in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo without the school permission if they can settle their unpaid tuition fees amounting to over P400,000.

Engr. Doroteo Salazar said the school will have these students back if they can pay their unpaid tuition fees.

 “I am willing to forgive them provided they will pay to the school their tuition fees,” Salazar said in an interview with The Freeman.

But the students said they are no longer interested of coming back to SC-SIT. Some of the students, especially those taking up maritime courses, have decided to transfer to the University of Cebu even if it would mean going back to first year college.

Madridejos Mayor Salvador dela Fuente said that the students are just concerned about their Transcript of Records which the SC-SIT has reportedly withheld unless their accounts are settled. Dela Fuente together with the officials of the Commission on Higher Education yesterday met with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to discuss the problem.

Dela Fuente said Garcia facilitated for the transfer of the students to other schools including UC. The governor has also instructed the provincial legal officer to meet with Salazar to discuss the unpaid tuition fees and the alleged withholding of the school records of the students.

“Nagpasalamat ko ni Gov. Garcia sa pagtabang niya sa mga studyante para masulbad ang ilang problema. Mau ra man gyud ni ang solution ang mangayo sa eksakto nga assessment sa ilang bayrunon kay willing man ang mga studyante mobayad (I am thankful with Governor Garcia for helping the students to solve their problem. The only solution is to get the exact assessment of the unpaid tuition fees because the students are willing to pay),” dela Fuente said.

Some of the students who cannot afford to enroll at UC will transfer at the Madridejos Community College. Dela Fuente also promised to help those who really cannot afford to continue their college education.

“Kung naa gyuy mga estudyante nga dili gyud ka-afford sa ilang bayranan (If there are students who really could not afford), as a mayor of Madridejos, I am willing to help,” dela Fuente added. He clarified that he will be helping these students out of his personal pocket.

SC-SIT earlier barred the 26 students from attending their classes after they were absent for about two weeks because they were among the participants in the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo. Salazar said the students as well as the organizer of the contingent did not ask permission from the school. (FREEMAN)