Baguio college probed over mandatory pregnancy tests

MANILA, Philippines — A tertiary institution in Baguio City is under investigation over a policy requiring female students to undergo mandatory pregnancy tests, an official said yesterday.

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the agency’s regional office in the Cordillera Administrative Region is probing Pines City Colleges for possible violation of the Magna Carta of Women.

The college received flak on Tuesday after a copy of its policy on mandatory pregnancy testing for female students circulated on social media.

The policy, which the college confirmed through its Facebook account, supposedly aims to protect the mother and child from taking part in subjects that may endanger their lives.

“Dismissal on the basis of pregnancy is prohibited under the Magna Carta of Women. The prohibition against dismissing students on the basis of pregnancy does not distinguish between public or private educational institutions,” De Guia said.

Based on the copy of the policy that circulated online, pregnant students are prohibited from enrolling in Clinical Dentistry subjects and other programs deemed dangerous for the mother and child such as Roentgenology, Anesthesiology, Endodontics, Hospital Dentistry and Community Dentistry.

Students who will get pregnant during the semester are required to drop the subjects or file a leave of absence. They are allowed to continue with general education subjects.

Students who fail to report their pregnancy are considered either failed or dropped in the prohibited subjects, according to the policy.

De Guia noted that women and girls should not be denied exercise and full enjoyment of their basic rights.

“They should not suffer negative consequences in educational and work spaces simply because they are pregnant,” she said.