MARAWI CITY – Hundreds of students held a peace walk inside the Mindanao State University main campus here on Monday, December 11, more than a week after the explosion that killed four persons and injured at least 40 on December 3.
Protesters carried placards rejecting the resumption of in-person classes on December 11.
“Majority of the students are still afraid na magbalik dito sa MSU due to some security and safety issues. That's why kami, it's a coalition of different MSU students na nag-conduct kami nitong peace walk para manawagan sa administration na magkaroon ng academic ease and transition from face-to-face to an online medium,” said Stephen Bryce Yaon, a junior political science student.
"Sana pakinggan kami, sana before man tayo bumalik sa normalcy na inaasam natin, ipo-forward, i-aadvance, at ipu-push muna natin ang safety and security ng mga students kasi at the end of the day, iyon ang very purpose ng university to be a home, and a home should be a safe place. Kung hindi siya safe so this is not our home," added Yaon.
MINDANAO State University students hold a peace walk on Monday, more than a week after the bombing incident that killed four persons. (Bonita Ermac)
Mindanao State University Presidential Management Staff chief Rashid Pandi said that they have been working non-stop to give justice to the bombing victims.
He said pain and trauma were considered in the decision to resume classes. "We are a constituency of 14,000 students, really the decision it's a very difficult balancing act that the university has to do. Of course, we consider a possibility to have an online class. But in the end after the consultation and deliberation, the university has found that it's the best interest of the academic community to resume in person classes," said Pandi.
Pandi said they considered this demand from students and the memorandum calling for the resumption for classes has a provision on special accommodation.
“Those who are not yet ready for in-person classes, who may need debriefing, who may need to go through psycho-social intervention, need not attend in person classes,” he said.
"They can manifest that, in fact some of them have already expressed that they are not ready to go back to class yet and have availed of our psycho-social intervention services," Pandi added.
This month’s examinations have been moved to January in deference to the students based on the initial decision of the Registrar's Office in consultation with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
"Wala pong exams, the exams will be scheduled next year January, wala pong exams ngayon," said Pandi.
Close to 1,900 students went home after the incident that killed Evangeline Sakces Aromin, Riza R. Daniel, Janine O. Arenas, and Junrey T. Barbante.
Four-hundred availed of transportation assistance provided by the MSU. Several returned home by on their own with the assistance of their local government units.