Dismissal of teachers pregnant out of wedlock up to school - CBCP official

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said yesterday schools should be given the prerogative to either retain or expel teachers who become pregnant out of wedlock, as it serves as a bad example to their students.

This is reportedly one of the contentious issues being discussed in the proposed Magna Carta for Women, said lawyer Jo Imbong, CBCP Legal Office executive secretary.

Imbong said the matter should be left to the schools’ discretion.

“What the CBCP is saying is that if a school has regulation covering this situation, their authority should be respected because they have academic freedom. Their authority should be respected because they have a particular institution culture.”

She added that teachers should practice what they preach.

“If the mentor, who is tasked to teach moral character to students, is someone who got pregnant without having a husband, then what kind of lesson is she imparting?” the CBCP official said.

Last Wednesday, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin urged the CBCP to clarify its position on the controversial provision of the bill that seeks to provide women equal access to education, training, public services and protection against discrimination.       – Evelyn Macairan