MANILA -- Quality and accessibility of education are among the main concerns of youth in Quezon City, according to a youth group during its State of the Youth Address (SOYA) on Sunday.

According to Kabataan Partylist QC (KPL QC), they spoke with several youth from Districts I to VI, and many of them want education to be more accessible.

"'Yung accessibility hindi lang naman siya tuition fee o 'yung pagkalibre niya. Ang pinag-uusapan natin yung comprehensive na itsura nung kailangang gastusin dun pag nasa loob ng classroom dahil kulang yung facilities, kulang yung mga advisers, yung mga teachers," said KPL QC Alliance Committee OIC Cheska Estepa.

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(Accessibility is not just about tuition fees or making it free. We are talking about the comprehensive costs required within the classroom due to the lack of facilities, advisers, and teachers.)

According to the 2022-2023 annual report for Quezon City, there are 156,674 students enrolled in public high schools and 33,994 in public senior high schools. However, there are only 157 public elementary and high schools, while there are 462 private elementary schools, high schools, and colleges with senior high school programs in the city.

"Ang population nga almost nasa 2 million ang youth sa Quezon City, pero hindi naman lahat nakakapag-aral. 'Yung mga di nakakapag aral nagtatry mag-work. Pero kahit sa work kulang," Estepa said.

(The population of youth in Quezon City is almost 2 million, but not everyone is able to attend school. Those who can't go to school try to work, but even in their jobs, they face shortages.)

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According to the group, some public school students report overcrowded classrooms with up to 100 students in a single room, and bullying remains widespread, especially in high school.

KPL QC calls the government to increase funding for education as the budget season approaches.

"Kung genuine kasi natin na gustong paglingkuran o ayusin ang education system kailangan nating aralin siya at iadmit kung may pagkakamali dito especially kunyarisa K-12, pag aallocate sa funds," Estepa said.

(If we genuinely want to serve or improve the education system, we need to study it and admit if there are mistakes, especially concerning K-12 and fund allocation.)