Indefinite

Still no date for start of classes at MSU-Marawi

CAGAYAN DE ORO There is still no definite date for the opening of classes at the Mindanao State University-Marawi, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Eduardo Año.

Año said the start of classes would depend on the security situation of Marawi City.

“Hindi natin masabi, depende sa development ng situation doon (We cannot tell, it depends on the development of the sitation there),” Año said.

“Mahirap ilagay sa panganib yung mga students natin, ito naman nakakapag-antay, ma-aadjust naman yung schedule nila. We just don't want to expose their lives unnecesarily in danger (It's hard to put the lives of the students in danger, it can wait, the schedule can be adjusted),” he said.

Enrollment was scheduled from July 31 to August 4 with classes for school year 2017 to 2018 beginning on August 7.

MSU-Marawi has a student population of 17,000 and a teacher population of at least 1,000.

Al Jay Mejos, editorin-chief of the university's student publication, admitted that students are having second thoughts about going back to MSUMarawi.

“Other schools are accepting MSU transferees without complete credentials, so this might attract students. But the MSU administration made it clear that it is safe in the campus, and even launched a campaign called 'Balik MSU' to call on students to enroll,” Mejos said.

“In our dialogue last July 22, we raised our fears, like what if may mga ligaw na bala, and siyempre yung transportation when we go to the campus, and some students also do not trust the university peace keeping force, despite assurance from the admin na sila ang bahala and to seriously manage the security there,” he said.

Reemar Alonsagay, an MSU-Marawi student leader, said he wants to go back to the campus, which he said is his “second home”.

Alonsagay wrote he “understands the intent of the MSU administration by telling that the campus is safe but bombs and gunshots are nonstop”.

He appeals to the MSU administration, which he said has been silent over the past weeks, to provide options and imperative actions on its plan for the whole student body.

“We demand to hear from you. The students need assurance that when we go back, there is a mechanized security system that will not step on students' rights,” Alonsagay said.

“As students, we also demand that we should be included in every step of your decision-making,” he added.

In an earlier interview, MSU system president Habib Macaayong said the campus has not been affected by the fighting as the campus is located some five kilometers from the main battle area.

MSU was established on September 1, 1961, through RA 1387, as amended. It was the brain child of the late Senator Domocao Alonto, as one of the government’s responses to the so-called “Mindanao Problem”.SS-CDO