Women comm asks XU to submit updated school policies

IN its joint meeting last week, the City Council Committee on Women and Family Relations, Committee on Education, and Committee on Sports and Youth Development asked for a copy of Xavier University’s updated student policies, rules, and guidelines.

This, after the committees discussed the special report of Councilor Joyleen Mercedes L. Balaba during the 68th regular session of the City Council regarding the complaint filed by two Muslim Xavier University (XU) nursing students who were allegedly prohibited from wearing hijab in their class.

During the meeting, it was learned that the response of the University President on the matter contradicts with the stand of the Dean of the College of Nursing.

“Let us not stop here. We cannot let our Muslim students to be (left) hanging as they do not know where they stand. We demand XU to submit their updated guidelines, since the response of the president and the dean are contradicting. The president is okay but the dean is not okay and even referring to legalities,” Vice Mayor Rodriguez lamented.

In addition, Vice Mayor Rodriguez urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to issue a call to other educational institutions to develop their own set of policies and guidelines to prevent student discrimination.

Balaba, for her part, clarified that the committee meeting has no intention of depicting the institution negatively, citing the issue affects the entire city.

“We called for this meeting because this issue is not just an issue of XU but an issue of the entire city having many educational institutions. This will serve as a warning to everyone, to inform the academic institutions, companies and business establishments that we do not allow discrimination. Wala tay sanctions this time, we do not want to be punitive. Dili nato i-sanction ang school or whatever personalities na involved in this unfair act,” the councilor explained.

The representative from CHED cited its requirement imposed upon all higher educational institutions.

“Yes, we can (coordinate with XU). What we really wanted for the universities and colleges and all higher educational institutions (is that) all policies must be approved from the highest policy-making and approving body. In the case of the university, maybe the Academic Council or Board of Trustees. Kailangan may approval and the community knows that this is the policy. So, what we initially thought of the issue when I asked our legal officer is that it is an internal concern na hindi pala alam ng institution kasi departmentalize na ang gumawa ng policy. So, it means that may internal guidelines ang college but was not approved by the university. As a product of XU, it’s a no brainer because ever since wala man nag-limit until now. So, asa na nga policy na approved? They cannot answer, but they answered na wala silay policy. Therefore, internal lang but we can require as part of their progress report,” the representative said.    

The three committees will schedule another round of discussion as soon as the document asked is submitted by XU.