Students of the College of Maritime Education of Negros Oriental State University in Dumaguete City held a protest at the university gate Monday, after learning that the college will be closed next semester.

They said they were disgruntled by the news and claimed that the school administration betrayed them. There are about 1,400 first year to fourth year Maritime students.

Student government governor Audillo Fundador said they were not given enough reasons for the closure.

He said most of them have spent huge amount and are about to go into internship, while others are set to graduate in March 2013.

Fundador said the school administration said that the Commission on Higher Education has ordered the closure because of its failure to comply with the requirements.

Third year Bachelor of Maritime student Jaymar Flores requested NORSU officials to help them transfer to another accredited maritime school. He said they were initially told by administration officials to just shift to other courses because they can do nothing about the situation.

Flores said this is unfair to the affected students.

Joefoe Rey Jalandoni, who is from Mindanao, appealed to President Benigno Aquino III to help NORSU since it is a state university for the poor but deserving students.

No official from the state university was available for comments as of press time.*MA

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