Financially struggled students need not to worry about missing their examinations anymore as a measure that barred schools from obliging them on paying their tuition fees before enabling them to take their exams is now signed into law.
The measure is Republic Act No. 11984 also known as "No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act", it was ratified by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on March 11, 2024 and principally authored by Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
In accordance with the new law, all public and private basic (K to 12) educational institutions, higher educational institutions (HEIs), and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) are directed to let disadvantaged students who cannot pay their tuition and other school fees to take the scheduled periodic and final examinations without requiring a permit.
In terms of technical-vocational institutions, however, the law shall only apply to long-term courses exceeding one year.
On behalf of of K-12 students, the measure shall cover for the entire school year.
Those disadvantaged students may ask their municipal, city, or provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer or the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to give them the necessary certificate on their disadvantaged status due to calamities, emergencies, force majeure, and other good or justifiable reasons in accordance with DSWD-issued rules and regulations.
In lieu with the measure, it shall be without discrimination to the right and power of the educational institutions to require the submission of a promissory note, withhold records and credentials of students and other legal and administrative remedies available to them for the collection of the unpaid fees.
It is the job of DSWD, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to promulgate the rules and regulations defining “disadvantaged student” and the criteria and requirements for and effectivity of the issuance of certifications by different entities involved.
According to the press release, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez led the House of Representatives’ early approval of its version of the measure which aims to uphold the right of every Filipino to quality and accessible education.
Both the House and the Speaker also convicted that no student must be restricted from taking periodic or final examinations because of unpaid school fees.
The new law will be effective 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Source: House of Representatives
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