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CHED steps in to settle PSBA-QC closure controversy

Jee Y. Geronimo

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(UPDATED) The commission will hold talks with warring factions of the school board and administration on Wednesday, October 9

AS ONE. Students join the interfaith prayer rally to protest against the school's closure. Photo by Leanne Jazul/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has decided to settle once and for all the dispute among board members of the Philippine School of Business Administration-Quezon City (PSBA-QC) that earlier led to an unexpected closure announcement.

Director Catherine Castañeda of CHED-National Capital Region (CHED-NCR) on Monday, October 7, called both factions of incumbent school president Benjamin Paulino and PSBA board members Jose Peralta and Juan Lim for a mediation set for Wednesday morning, October 9.

Together with CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo, the commission’s legal office, and the PSBA-QC student council, they will discuss, among other things, whether the school is indeed suffering business losses for the past 8 years – one reason cited in newspaper ads as the reason for the closure.

They will also examine legal basis for the school’s closure. 

READ: Students, faculty, staff to question PSBA-QC closure

The school’s board of directors and stockholders announced on the school’s website on September 20 the “unanimous” decision they reached that day to close PSBA-QC and its educational programs effective at the end of first semester classes on October 18.

The notice said the school is also being closed due to the continuous operation of the school by Paulino without “an independent permit from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)” and “authority from PSBA-QC.”

READ: CHED says PSBA-QC can’t close down mid-year

Both CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan and Castañeda said they are looking after the students and the faculty members who will be greatly affected once the closure pushes through.

PRAYER. Candles were also lit up during the rally. Photo by Leanne Jazul/Rappler

PSBA-QC held an interfaith prayer rally on Monday morning to demand an end to the division among the administrators. 

During the rally, faculty members called for the immediate termination of the closure notice that will take effect on November 8.

The student council also expressed in a resolution their decision to question before a court the school’s closure.

They deplored national broadsheets and the school’s website for “erroneous reporting” that caused panic and confusion in the PSBA community. – with reports from LeAnne Jazul/Rappler.com

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Jee Y. Geronimo

Jee is part of Rappler's Central Desk, handling most of the world, science, and environment stories on the site. She enjoys listening to podcasts and K-pop, watching Asian dramas, and running long distances. She hopes to visit Israel someday to retrace the steps of her Savior.