THOMASIAN student leaders and activists called for swift and sweeping reforms to the Philippine education system, not just institutional reflection within UST, almost two months after the death of BS Physical Therapy senior Junver Toledo.
In an 11-page position paper filed with CHEd on Monday, July 7, the students outlined demands and reforms in UST’s academic policies, mental health support services, and the outcomes-based education system in the country.
“Junver Toledo’s death is not just a result of the decision alone, but the result of an anti-student education system established by the CHEd and enforced by institutions like UST,” read the paper signed by Olive Toledo, Junver’s sister, and eight student leaders and activists.
“When a student loses their life because of a failing grade, it is not the student who failed — it is the system that pushed them to the edge and gave them no way out.”
The paper also emphasized that Toledo’s death should be a turning point not just for UST.
“Junver Toledo’s death is not an isolated tragedy; it is a serious indictment of a system that failed to protect a student in distress,” it said. “This moment must be a turning point, not just for institutional reflection but for transformative action.”
The paper included a detailed timeline of events from May 28, 2024 to May 17, 2025, the day when Toledo joined a 27-minute Zoom call with his instructor for the course “Clinical Correlation and Team Approach.”
There, Toledo learned he had failed the subject again, missing the passing mark by just 1.5%.
Attached pieces of evidence include annotated screenshots of Toledo’s conversations with his professor, such as his email requesting a grade re-evaluation that allegedly showed his “suicidal thoughts.”
Dave Sopandi, president of Kabataan Party-list UST, said the filing was aimed at holding UST and other institutions accountable and exposing and ending the outcomes-based framework.
“Ang inaasahan po natin na sa ganitong filing ngayong araw po ay at the very least, isang step forward to exposing ganitong OBE culture at ‘yong pagwawakas na ganitong kultura na pahirap lamang at hindi nagtutungo sa genuine na pag-asenso,” Sopandi told the Varsitarian.
UST Panday Sining president Raven Racelis said Toledo’s death underscored the need for CHEd to reevaluate and improve its response to the mental health crisis among youth.
“Bagamat maraming factors ang mental health crisis nandiyan ang family, friends, or iba pang parts ng society, ‘di natin maitatanggi na katulad kay Junver, ‘yong academic pressure,” Racelis told the Varsitarian.
On June 3, just weeks before the end of the 19th Congress, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro filed House Resolution 2305, seeking a probe into Toledo’s death and a review of the national implementation of outcomes-based education.
For the measure to move forward, however, the resolution will have to be refiled under the 20th Congress. Czeantal Naomi P. Delos Santos
