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BSU professor answers student’s complaints

LA TRINDIDAD, Benguet (Mar. 15) — Benguet State University (BSU) faculty member Forester Rodolfo Espada Jr. of the College of Forestry (CF) clarified his side against alleged “absenteeism and laziness”, as aired by some of his former students.

NORDIS published an article airing the students’ issues on Mar. 6. The investigating committee tasked to gather information on the concerns raised called for a consultation on Mar. 7 with the concerned stakeholders, where three students and a member of the CF, Baby Jhane Clemeno faculty delivered their respective statements.

The statement read by Clemeno, however, dealt on alleged “unfair practices” by College Dean Marissa Parao.

At the consultation, students said that Espada’s standards were too high, that they could no longer cope with his teaching methodologies. Due to his supposed absenteeism, lessons were lectured hastily, leaving the students hard up at coping.

“Pwede na ito” not acceptable

In an emailed statement, Espada said that he has adjusted his teaching standards yet, these still appeared to be “unacceptable”.

“I had hoped that they (students) will step up to the occasion and bloom, but it appears that under pressure, our students falter and wilt. The attitude of pwede na ito is not acceptable”, he said in the statement, adding that to contribute to quality education, concerned constituents should strive to give their best.

Espada presented a list of his whereabouts on the days he was supposedly absent, where he was resource speaker and training coordinator for an income generating project of the college (June 16, 2004) and where he was a paper presenter in a national conference.

Espada said he had a list of the class attendance on other dates he was accused of being absent.

According to his statement, he was on leave twice on the dates mentioned and was in a faculty meeting once.

“The moment that the faculty member is absent in the College, students associate it with being absent, which is unfair to faculty members particularly those who work well to promote the college”, he said.

All position papers were submitted to the investigating committee.

Meanwhile in an open letter, members of BSU Anakbayan and Progressive Igorots for Social Action (PIGSA) called on the BSU administration, specifically the investigating committee to act “decisively and immediately on the issues presented against Espada.”

The said organizations condemned the CF leadership for condoning the alleged faculty practices in the college. They also called on the university’s vice president on academic affairs to look into the issues raised if these cannot be resolved at the college level. The intervention of university president Dr. Rogelio Colting was requested in the resolution of the issues. # Abi Taguba Bengwayan/NORDIS

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