Malacañang Thursday appealed to students of state colleges and universities to refrain from resorting to violence if they have any complaints abut the system.

Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said disgruntled students could engage in dialogues with education officials to raise their concerns rather than take the path of violence.

While insisting the Arroyo government has not been remiss in improving the country’s education system, Saludo said they are ready to listen to any complaints and come up with a solution to the problem.

“Violence does not help resolve problems on how to provide better education for the youth despite limited funds. This should be given attention. Violence does not help,” Saludo said in a news conference in the Palace.

Saludo made the remarks after protests of several students from state-run Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) demanding to stop tuition fee hikes turned violent.

The protesters reportedly destroyed an entrance gate and splattered paint all over the vicinity of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Quezon City.

To ease the tension, CHED chairman Emmanuel Angeles reportedly

romised students that he would block increase in tuition fee in their university.
Saludo said the Arroyo government has always prioritized the education sector, giving it the largest budget every year for salaries of teachers, hiring new personnel, construction of classrooms, among others.

Government scholarships have also been provided to indigent yet deserving students to help them complete their education, according to Saludo.

Saludo meantime urged students to be cautious of political groups riding on the issue of education to propel their own electoral plans this May. With the forthcoming polls, he said it was expected that controversial issues, such as the tuition fee matter, would attract attention of groups or individuals seeking public office.