Based on new details released over the weekend by the UPM administration, the 16-year old BA Behavioral Sciences freshman at the College of Arts and Sciences struggled under the state university’s loan and tuition policies right from the start when she entered UP in May 2012.
Tejada, the eldest of five children of a taxi driver and a housewife, killed herself in their home in Tayuman, Manila early March 15, two days after she had to file a leave of absence since she failed to pay tuition for the second semester of the school year.
When she enrolled for her first semester last May 10, she was assessed a tuition of P9,172.50 since she was not classified to be entitled to free tuition under UP’s socialized tuition scheme called the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).
She paid P2,795.50 on May 11, while her loan of P6,377 was settled by her father only on December 19, when the second semester was already underway.
By then the Office of Student Affairs denied her father’s appeal for another loan to cover her second semester, telling the Tejadas they have been given three extensions to pay the full tuition “and it was already mid-semester.â€
“Since it is a violation of Article 332 of the University Code, the appeal could no longer be accommodated as it will set a precedent,†the UPM administration said.
On September 27, Tejada appealed to be re-assessed and categorized under Bracket E so she would be spared having to pay the tuition.
But her appeal was not acted upon as according to the UP Manila administration she “failed to submit supporting documentary requirements for appeal to be processed during the designated period despite frequent reminders from the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).â€
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