Hindi tinanggap ang anak sa school

Isa akong unwed mother working in a financial firm in Makati. Because of my situation, I worked doubly hard to be able to give my daughter a good life.

Since my daughter is turning five this April, ini-apply ko siya for admission sa isang sikat na exclusive school dito sa Quezon City. During the interview with the principal, she told me that among the requirements for admission is a copy of the marriage contract of the child’s parents, so I had to explain my situation.

Nang malaman ng principal na single parent ako, she politely told me that the school cannot accept my daughter. I argued that my daughter already passed the entrance exam at wala akong alam na batas discriminating against children of unwed or single parents, pero hindi pa rin siya pumayag. School policy daw nila iyon at may academic freedom sila to choose their students.

Disappointed talaga ako, dahil one of the best ang pagkakakilala sa school na iyon. Does the school really have the right to deny my daughter admission on the basis that I am a single parent? –Raquel Gonzales, Quezon City

Una, ano ba ang Academic Freedom? Ito ay freedom of the school to determine who may teach, what may be taught, how it shall be taught and who may be admitted to study. Ibig sabihin, may karapatan ang school na pumili kung sino ang pwedeng mag-aral sa school.

Kaya lang, hindi ibig sabihin nito ay may blanket authority or freedom na ang isang school to accept or deny students. While the school is given the right to determine who may be admitted to study in their school, it is my opinion that the school standards must be relevant to the academic abilities of the child at hindi sa kanyang family o childhood background. Walang kinalaman ang pagiging single parent mo sa academic capabilities ng iyong anak.

Taliwas din ang policy ng school sa Section 1, Article 14 ng Philippine Constitution: "The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all". Mayroon ding pending bill on Magna Carta for Students that seeks to address this form of discrimination.

Marami pa namang ibang magaganda at kilalang schools na walang discrimination sa status ng magulang. Mas mabuti na i-enroll mo na lang ang anak mo sa iba para hindi ka na uli magkaroon ng problema.