Quotas existed in medical schools and the graduation rate was men ana women. although the choice of jpeoialization often showed gender almost equal, In answer to a question on the availability of scholarships, preferences. that they were generally granted to award6 ana grants to women, she replied males ana females equally but the total number was insufficient. She reported that most teachers, particularly at the elementary and secondary levels, were women, but she had no exact figures for teachers at the university level. Although strong lobbying occurred, most top-level posts, such as principals and heads of department, were occupied by men. In response to a query on the inclusion of women’s studies in university curricula, the representative informed members that the University of the Philippines had established a Center for Women’s Studies that oonduated a master’s degree programme but she had no details on the law progremine. 210. Responding to a question as to whether teenage pregnancies had any effect on the drop-out rate of women, the representative considered that the figure was probably not high enough to be considered a major cause in comparison with -the factor of poverty. More information would be provided in the subsequent report of the Philippines. The Philippine Government was commended on tire fact that primary education was mandatory but further information was requested on any sanctions that were applied in cases of non-compliance with -the law. 211. In relation to article 11, the representative considered that career and vocational aounselling was not wellldevelopedr it tended to be traditional in its approach to careers for women. She said that no special mechanisms had -been set up to deal with cases of sex discrimination: redress for women who did not receive equal pay for work of equal value could be sought through the regular mechanisms for all violations under the Labour Code. Further information on the details and enforcement of ‘abour legislation would be provided in the third periodic report. Responding to a question on the programmes being developed to encourage men’s participation in the care of children, the representative said that some efforts were being made by non-governmental organizations. Proposals for benefits for paternity leave that were before Congress had not received universal support as it was considered possible that the leave would not necessarily be used for helping care for the children. The Philippine Government provided ahild-care faailities but, with the large, young population and an average of five -ahildren per household, those facilities were insufficient to meet the demand. Following efforts by non-governmental organizations, there was a growing awareness in the Government of the problem, and pilot projects to provide day-aare centres at We workplace had been instigated. On the subject of “domestic outworkers”, the representative infocmetl members of an important recent developmentr the formulation of a homeworkers code, which was the result of initiatives by rural women workers and the Association of New Filipino Women, a non-governmental organisation. The code endeavoured to extend labour protection laws to homeworkers. 212, In response to a request for more information on female overseas workers, the representative said that statistical data were generally not gender sensitive, but measures had been taken to amend the forms of the administrating authority in order to improve the collection of data. The National Commission on Women had launched a programme to develop a database on women in international labour migration. Measures such a6 bilateral -42-

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