According to TESDA's 2021 report, there are almost a million students enrolled in tech voc schools nationwide. With a huge number of students, though, there is a lack of gender-disaggregated data in the TVET sector – ito ang data na specifically capturing information from students who identify as LGBTQI+. Without this kind of data, mas mahihirapan tayong malaman ang real experiences and challenges that LGBTQI+ students experience in tech-voc. And as with any institution, LGBTQI+ students in TVET continue to face challenges that hinder them from excelling in their studies or even stepping into TVET schools in the first place.
How are they faring in tech voc schools and how are the schools doing? What can we do to be better allies for LGBTQI+ tech voc students?
Having to fit in
In our recently held Yaring Pinay Community of Practice entitled, "Inclusivity Wins: Empowering the LGBTQI+ Youths of TVET '' in partnership with Investing in Women, an Australian government initiative, we heard from both students and school administrators. Here's what we learned!
TVET schools operate within the realms of Filipino culture — a culture that still, unfortunately, believes in binary gender. In terms of how TVET tracks and courses are seen, the common "pambabaeng trabaho 'yan" or "panlalaki lang 'yan" outlook remains one of the huge reasons why students find it hard to maintain their education or even enter it in the first place. As LGBTQI+ students don't fit in the traditional definition of a man or a woman, they continue to face anxieties and fears from the unnecessary challenge of having to adjust and fit in.
A TESDA Learning Center administrator from Binangonan, Rizal, said that students in their learning center are welcomed, no matter what their SOGIESC is. However, LGBTQI+ students face a challenge that their heterosexual peers might not even think of.
"All trainees here are being taken care of sa kanilang mga rights. Sa mga challenges, dito naman [sa learning center] walang pinipiling gender…siguro minimal challenges lang 'yong pagsusuot ng uniform," the TESDA administrator said.
Like other schools and institutions, gendered uniforms continue to exist. In most cases, where men are expected to wear a button down polo and pants, women on the other hand are expected to wear a blouse and a skirt. The same is true for tech voc schools. Though, the TESDA administrator emphasized that a gender-neutral TESDA uniform — which is a shirt — is a viable option for LGBTQI+ students.
Other than uniforms, the conversation on restroom use continues to be a problem for LGBTQI+ students. Gendered restrooms are typically the norm in any school and this presents a problem for nonbinary LGBTQI+ students who might be uncomfortable with choosing the restroom based on their assigned sex at birth or might face negative reactions if they are to use the restroom that affirms their gender identity.
"Ang isa sa mga challenge sa amin is using the comfort rooms kasi lalo na sa school namin, we don't have specific comfort rooms para sa mga LGBTQI+ [students]," a TVET school administrator from Santo Tomas, Batangas, said. "I hope, in the future, magka-restrooms din for the LGBT."
LGBTQI+ students face more problems than these. However, as a tech voc student pointed out in her observation among her peers, they remain untold. "Naghe-hesitate sila o nahihiya sila (LGBTQI+ students) na mag-share ng kanilang challenges at mag-speak up kasi natatakot silang ma-judge," the tech voc student said.
Achieving inclusivity
Although fears continue to plague students, there is progress being made by schools. For one, the TESDA administrator from Binangonan, Rizal, shared that they personally head a committee that looks over the welfare of tech voc students in their learning center. This includes the safety of LGBTQI+ students from harassment.
"Meron tayong Committee on Decorum and Investigation, headed by yours truly, para napo-protektahan ko lagi 'yong mga trainees namin na walang nava-violate dito lalo na sa mga cases ng sexual harassment. Mas maganda na 'yong safe sila rito," the TESDA administrator said.
"Tayo as a human being, we are all created by God. Doon ako nagsisimula. 'Yon ang best practice ko for all to understand bakit nage-exist ang LGBTQI+. Para sa akin, doon ko siya sinisimulan para maintindihan [ng mga students] na lahat ng trainees ay bahagi ng organization namin," they added. "Mahal namin sila, binibigyan namin sila ng tamang serbisyo without discrimination."
The personal beliefs and acceptance of the TESDA administrator towards the LGBTQI+ community is a much welcomed gesture for the welfare of LGBTQI+ students, according to Venus Aves from ILGA Asia. ILGA Asia is the Asian arm of the world federation of national and local organizations dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) people across the globe.
"Important na 'yong ating administrators, faculty, and staff, sila mismo naniniwala that everyone should be accepted, that everyone should not be discriminated against. Pumapasok dito 'yong ating call na everyone should be loud in their support na everyone should feel safe and welcome," Venus said.
TESDA, for its part, has also included gender-sensitivity in its training modules since 2012. This allows for all trainees to be educated on the varying gender-related issues that surround TVET, such as gender stereotypes and the gendering of jobs, which hinder the opportunities for trainees — LGBTQI+ or not.
Embracing the LGBTQI+ in TVET
"Because of all these problems, ang ating mga LGBTQI+ students — sa TVET man o hindi — they are more likely to feel unsafe and, as a result, nagmi-miss sila ng classes, nagdo-drop-out, or they opt not to enroll at all. This is a grim situation that we have," Venus said.
Although this is the case, Venus said there are "Two Commandments" that can be followed to push for inclusivity in the TVET sector.
"First, is to just let us be. Instead of outright violating LGBTQI+ rights or intervening in what you see as a problem, we should allow LGBTQI+ people to thrive in safe spaces without fear of having their basic rights violated," Venus said.
"Aside from just letting us be, you should fight with us. It's one thing to allow us to be ourselves, it's another to fight with us," she added.
"We may feel helpless, we may feel defeated, pero meron tayong magagawa — at dapat natin 'tong gawin."
Venus also shared other things that we can do to be more inclusive. This includes using gender-inclusive language, affirming names and pronouns, supporting LGBTQI+ support groups, educating about SOGIESC, codifying inclusion, and being loud in supporting LGBTQI+ people.
Like other schools and education paths, tech voc is a wonderful option for students to showcase their talents and skills. Although there is still work that needs to be done to achieve inclusivity, there are LGBTQI+ students who continue to enjoy and love the education that they're getting. And, no amount of discrimination should hinder any student, LGBTQI+ or otherwise.
We need to work together! Tech voc is a good driver of our communities and economy, both locally and nationally. Everyone has a place in tech voc — and that should be the norm!
Excerpts from this article were lifted from the discussion during the Yaring Pinay Community of Practice for TVET Schools and Employers on June 30, 2022.
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