The Kabataan Party-list-University of Sto. Tomas (KPL-UST) demand accountability from the UST administration following the suicide of one of its students. Junver, 22, a student at the UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences, reportedly committed suicide on May 17 because of academic pressure.

His family reported that Junver left behind a letter saying he could no longer handle the pressure after failing a subject for the second time. Junver was supposed to graduate in June.

The victim’s sibling also shared that Junver had no other failing grades during his entire time studying at the university. He graduated from high school at Philippine Science High School-Cagayan Valley Campus.

“More than grief, this moment demands collective outrage, reflection, and resolute action,” KPL-UST said. The group added that these challenges faced by students are not detached from other issues and are clearly systematic problems faced by the youth.

“Across universities, students are grappling with an academic culture that prioritizes performance over well-being, compliance over compassion, and output over genuine learning,” the group said.

KPL-UST believes that the tragedy of Junver’s death reflects a silent crisis affecting thousands of students. “Excessive academic workload with little room for rest or recovery; Fear of failure, losing scholarships, or falling behind; And persistent anxiety, burnout, and depression, exacerbated by a lack of sufficient institutional support,” it stated.

The group called on the administration of UST to move beyond rhetoric of sympathy for students and instead take decisive and meaningful action to address the issues in order to protect its own students.

The group demand holding an independent and open investigation into the circumstances surrounding Junver’s death. They are also urging for curriculum reforms within the College of Rehabilitation Sciences and the strengthening of mental health services within the university.

“We need mental health services that truly care for students, services that are easy to access, trained to handle real struggles, and built on empathy,” according to KPL-UST.

The group also criticized the prevailing Outcomes-Based Education nationwide. According to them, OBE is a framework used in all colleges and universities and is promoted by the Commission on Higher Education. This kind of education, they said, molds students like robots who only respond to the needs of industry and global standards.

“Justice for Junver is a call for justice for all students,” KPL-UST emphasized. They said that the way to honor Junver’s life is to demand for a future where no student is driven to the brink because of the situations they face within universities.