CHEd chief: Student leaders, EARIST reach deal after hair dispute

FILE PHOTO: Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairperson Prospero De Vera III presents before the Higher, Technical and Vocational Education Subcommittee on Monday, February 6, 2023. On Friday, March 15, 2024, the CHEd chief said administration of the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) and student leaders have reached a consensus on student inclusivity and enrollment. This developed after EARIST trended online due to a video where the school allegedly refused to enroll members of the LGBT community who have long tresses unless they cut their hair. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairperson Prospero de Vera III said administration of the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) and student leaders have reached a consensus on student inclusivity and enrollment.

This developed after EARIST trended online due to a video where the school allegedly refused to enroll members of the LGBT community who have long tresses unless they cut their hair.

“So I am happy to report that after our meeting today, the president of EARIST and our student leaders have agreed that they set up ways that they will now do moving forward,” de Vera said Friday.

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According to the lawyer of the students, Eljay Bernardo, they have agreed with the EARIST administration that students can enroll in the school regardless of their hair length and that EARIST will study its uniform and grooming policies.

“Moving forward, we will coordinate with CHEd to have this formalized and also to be a model to other universities,” Atty. Bernardo said.

Wilfredo Riotoc, the president of the student advocacy group Bahaghari EARIST, emphasized that some educational policies concerning hair length and the like are not obstacles to education.

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“We are looking forward na magkaroon ng inclusivity sa mga student regardless kung LGBT sila and also those students na male and female because we believe that hindi naman hadlang [sa] edukasyon [ang] mga inaano nila sa buhok, ‘yung mga policy sa different school, and hopefully, this school [ay] magkaroon ng inclusivity,” Riotoc said.

(We are looking forward to have inclusivity among students regardless of whether they are LGBT and also those students who are male and female because we believe that education is not hindered by their concerns on hair, the policies in different schools, and hopefully, this school will have inclusivity.)

As for EARIST president Rogelio Mamaradlo, he said: “We will do what is right for EARIST and abide by the rules pertaining to the particular issue on gender sensitivity and enrollment procedures and all others affecting the LGBTQ, so we are one in the issue of inclusivity.”

De Vera said this type of concern also affects other universities in the Philippines, and that such situation calls for consultations to reach an agreement.

“I think what is important is that this concern is not only in EARIST, this is in many universities in the country and it is important that we number one, look at the problem at the school, look for solutions that agree on multiple sides, and have a way forward,” he noted.