CHED warns SUCs against discrimination of students with romantic relationships

By Reynaldo E. Andres

Contributor

Batac City—The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has warned the leaderships of state universities and colleges (SUCs) across the country against prohibiting romantic relationships between male and female students saying that higher education institutions (HEIs) have no right to intrude into such personal affairs.

CHED Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan made the announcement on August 22, 2016 to all SUCs nationwide after she called the attention of the Golden Heritage Polytechnic College (GHPC) in Cagayan De Oro City over a reported school poster prohibiting relationships between male and female students that was put up alongside the road fronting the college. The school bans romantic relationships between its students in attempt to prevent teen pregnancy.

The poster was put up after a year when six GHPC students were allegedly expelled for violating such policy. Thus, the CHED ordered its regional office in Region X to investigate the reported expulsion saying that such move violated a person’s right, especially women, as provided for in Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.

In her letter to all SUCs which was forwarded by Lester L. Lucero, CHED’s senior administrative assistant V, Dr. Licuanan reminded all HEIs that neither CHED nor any school, college or university has the right to intrude into the personal relationships of its students and employees unless these relationships are in direct contradiction of existing government rules and regulations.

“CHED reiterates its commitment of full compliance with RA 9710, which includes the specific provision on the pregnancy of female students and employees whether it is within or outside of marriage,” Dr. Licuanan said

Section 13, letter b, under Chapter IV on Rights and Empowerment of the Magna Carta of Women states that “Expulsion and non-readmission of women faculty due to pregnancy outside of marriage shall be outlawed. No school shall turn out or refuse admission to a female student solely on the account of her having contracted pregnancy outside of marriage during her term in school.”

Meanwhile, the Commission en banc has approved last year CHED Memorandum Order No. 1, series of 2015, entitled “Establishing the Policies and Guidelines on Gender and Development in the CHED and HEIs,” which lays down the minimum standards on gender and development (GAD) and women empowerment in the institutional policies, curricular, research, and extension guidelines that should be mainstreamed in colleges and universities.

The memorandum also directed the publication of the Gender Handbook for Higher Education and related programs which provides the customized guide on how to institutionalize and implement proper gender policies, programs, activities and projects in the HEIs.

Further, the memorandum expresses that SUCs should adhere to the principles and objectives of RA 9710 as well as the mandates of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, and the UN Beijing Platform for Action, to which the Philippines is a signatory.