The National Union of Students of the Philippines

THE NUSP is a national alliance of student councils/unions/governments. It was established in 1957, and it is a patriotic, democratic and progressive alliance of student leaders that upholds and defends the rights and welfare of the Filipino students. As the Philippines' prime student center, NUSP unites all students in the country through their mandated representative student councils, governments and unions in the struggle for the fundamental right to education.

OBJECTIVES

• Work for the restoration and preservation of student councils and organizations, which assert and uphold the interests of the students
• Advocate for a nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented educational system in the country
• Promote and protect the people’s rights and welfare and work for a united struggle for genuine freedom and democracy
• Promote international solidarity with the students and peoples of other countries who share similar objectives with the NUSP

LINE WORKS

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Leadership Training Seminar

The NUSP provides training for student leaders during its national conventions and biennial congresses. It includes input on leadership, workshops on public speaking, writing for advocacy, table battles and negotiations, etc. Upon request, the NUSP offers trainings to member
student councils.

• Organizational discussions

Part of the NUSP organizing work is a systematic discussion on the organization’s orientation, history and line works.

• Socio-political issues

The NUSP also holds fora and alternative classes tackling relevant socio-political issues which affect the Filipino youth.


RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA WORK

• The Filipino Student is the official publication of the NUSP.
  
• The Unyon (Union) is NUSP’s political journal.
• Primers and/or research papers on the Philippine educational system are also disseminated to NUSP chapters.
• The Campus Watch is a summary of important and particular student concerns. Data are gathered through caucuses and consultations.
• The NUSP maximizes the mainstream media to propagate its position on many student issues. NUSP officers are invited to television shows and radio programs. Letters to the editors from the organization are published in national and local papers.

CAMPAIGNS

• Education

The NUSP leads the fight against unjustified tuition increases in private schools and cuts on subsidy to public education. It represents the Filipino students in various dialogues, hearings called forby the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the House of Representatives.

• Students’ democratic rights

The NUSP stands against violations to academic rights and other democratic rights of the students. Campaigns have been launched for the recognition of student organizations in schools, abolition of the mandatory military course in college, repeal of other repressive policies (i.e. closure of student councils and publications, suspension/expulsion of student leaders, no permit no exam policy, etc.)

• People’s issues

The NUSP also participates in various national issues affecting the Filipino youth. Among these include anti-U.S. military intervention actions, human rights violations, attacks on civil liberties, oil price hikes, unemployment, etc. The NUSP, like many student and youth groups in the country, was involved in the


ALLIANCE WORK

• The NUSP has convened many broad youth formations such as the Estrada Resign Youth Movement, Education for All, AbolishROTC! and Youth Action Network. At present it works as a convenor of Tuition Monitor, Youth Demanding Arroyo’s Removal (YouthDARE) and Tanggulan Network forCivil Liberties.
• It has also joined multi-sectoral alliances such as the Plunder Watch, September 21 Committee and POWER.
• It continues to relate with progressive legislators to push for pro-student laws.

INTERNATIONAL WORK


The NUSP maintains relations with other youth organizations abroad.

• It is a member of the Asian Student Association (ASA) and the International Union of Students (IUS).
• It seeks to relate with other international youth formations for various forms of cooperation and solidarity.

STRUCTURE OF THE NUSP

The organizational structure of the NUSP is composed of the National Assembly, the National Council and the National Executive Board.

The National Assembly (NA) is the highest policy-making body composed of all the officers of the National Council including the national standing committees, all the officers of the NUSP chapters and a minimum of one delegate from each member council. The National Assembly is convened every two years (except for special sessions which can be called upon by the National Executive Board) when election of officers, adoption of policies, programs and projects and other organizational matters are forwarded by the national office or local chapters. It also acts as the constitutional body of the National Union should the need arises.

The National Convention refers to the assembly of student leaders once every two years in between the holding of the National Congress.

The National Council (NC) is the second highest policy-making body of the NUSP when the National Assembly is not in session. It is composed of the National Executive Board and all NUSP chapter representatives elected or appointed by their respective constituents. The National Council meets twice a year to assess the activities and performance of the organization and to adopt such policies and measures, as maybe necessary. In urgent cases, the National President may convene the National Council.

The National Executive Board (NEB) is the implementing and administrative body when the National Council and/or the National Assembly are not in session. It is composed of the National President, Executive Vice-President, Vice Presidents for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and the Secretary General. An expansion of the NEB includes the committee heads.

The NEB is tasked to formulate the rules that will govern the administration of the organization; draw up annual program of activities for the approval of the National Congress or the National Council; to act for and in behalf of the National Assembly and for the National Council on matters that require immediate actions; to prepare the agenda of and convene the session of the National Assembly subject to the concurrence of the National Council; and to define the positions of the NUSP on vital and urgent issues of the campus and national concern.