Suspension affects personal life of QCSHS pupils in blog controversy

MANILA, Philippines - The students of the Quezon City Science High School on Tuesday said the suspension meted against them for writing a controversial blog against their school principal is already affecting their personal lives. In an interview with Trisha Zafra aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras,” one of the students, whom the report did not identify, said she could no longer freely move after the suspension. "Hindi po makakilos gaya ng dati. Hindi na po ganon kalaya gaya ng dati. Siyempre po lahat tumitingin, lahat po nakabantay sa galaw namin [I can no longer move freely unlike before. All eyes are on me, watching my everymove]," she said. The other student, for his part said, said he is no longer interested in attending his classes. "Tinatamad na rin po kasi akong mag-aral kakaisip sa ga issue na yan [I lost my interest in studying because of the issue]," he said. During the interview, the students refuted the claims of their school principal, Dr. Zenaida Sadsad, that their blog entries were damaging to the school's reputation and to her credibility. The students said what they've written was all "positive criticism" and they have no intention to discredit Sadsad and their school's integrity. One of the students said they always post over their blog their opinions about different issues, and one of those were the new policies implemented in their school following Sadsad's assumption of office. "Maraming policies na binago pagdating po ng principal namin. Kasi pag nakikita po namin na hindi makakatulong nilalagay po namin [There were so many policies that were changed following our principal’s assumption to office. When we see it is not helpful we write about it]," the student said. The report also said that one of the reasons that triggered the blog entry was the sacking of the adviser of the school paper by Sadsad. "Before pa po mag-start ang school year meron na po kaming project for journalism group. Pag-alis niya nasayang lahat [Before the school year started we had so many projects for our journalism group. But when our adviser was sacked, all those projects went to waste]," said the student. The 10-day sanction imposed against the students was approved by the Quezon City Schools Division. Official of the division said they punished the students to teach them that freedom comes with responsibility. The sanction was deferred, however, after the parents of the scholars complained before the Department of Education. Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Leila de Lima said the school principal may have committed violation for suspending the students. "About the principal involved, if that same principal was part was the one who invoked the suspension, there was something wrong there," she said. Sadsad, however, maintained that the suspension did not violate the students’ rights, and that it was done based on the school’s rules and policies. "Hindi ko nilabag ang karapatan nila. Meron kaming rules and regulation [I did not violate their rights. Our school has our own rules and regulations]," Sadsad said. - GMANews.TV