The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) asked higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country to create policies and guidelines so that their students and employees could have equal access to their activities and services.

Basing on its Memorandum Order No. 1 series of 2015, CHED said the HEIs activities and services should promote on gender equality and remove all obstacles to people participating in all activities and that they should have full and equal share of economic, social, cultural, and political decision making, in the workplace, and in communities.

“Equality is a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice, and this must not be perpetuated,” CHED said.

In line with the memorandum, the MMSU is strengthening its Center for Gender and Development and Poverty Studies, which seeks to institutionalize policies and programs that are responsive to gender, poverty, and human rights issues through instruction, research, extension, and administrative services.

“This is to make sure that in all aspects, we make men and women’s concern and experience an important part of planning and implementing our programs, activities, and policies,” MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis said.

In the university, men and women have the equal opportunity in leading the University as shown by an almost equal number of university officials who have top-to-middle level functions such as deans, directors, and chiefs of offices that composed of 51 males and 46 females.

MMSU employees also enjoy the same work opportunities wherein faculty members are composed of 247 males and 217 females, while the administrative personnel have a total of 176 males and 140 females. Also, full-time researchers and extension workers compose of 20 males and 32 females, while there are 31-male and 54-female faculty researchers.

The committees on the university curriculum, scholarship, grievance, and decorum and investigation have 11-male and 9-female members.

Situation in the MMSU system shows there are a balanced number of students in some degree courses that are supposed to be dominated by either men or women. Among them are those taking up Bachelor of Laws, BS in Medicine, Agriculture, Forestry, Engineering, Marine Biology, Fisheries, those taking up degrees in health sciences, and in teacher education.

“Aside from learning experiences, MMSU also provides equal privileges to its students to unleash their potentials and exposure to actual work environment. With that, students are empowered to apply their skills,” Dr. Agrupis said, adding that the University also ensures equal access of its external clients, farmers, fisher folks, and marginalized women through its extension services.