Marcos signs 'No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act' into law
MANILA, Philippines — Barring students from periodic and final exams due to unpaid tuition and other school fees will now be illegal after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 11984, also known as the "No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act."
Signed by Marcos Jr. on March 11, the law will cover all public and private basic institutions (K to 12), higher education institutions and technical vocational institutions, according to the Presidential Communications Office on Friday.
"All public and private educational institutions covered by this Act are hereby mandated to accommodate and allow Disadvantaged Students unable to pay tuition and other fees to take the periodic and final examinations without requiring a permit," said RA 11984.
"Provided, however, that in the case of K to 12 students, the mandate shall be for the entire school year."
Progressive groups have long lobbied for the scrapping of the policy, saying that it hampers the youth's constitutionally mandated right to education.
While the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) had earlier implemented memorandums to enforce the policy, a law providing for penalties on erring schools were non-existent.
Last year, private schools appealed against the policy, saying that it could endanger the sustainability of their learning institutions.
Under the RA 11984, the municipal, city and provincial social welfare and development officer, or the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are task to issue the necessary certificate on the "disadvantaged status" of the student due to:
- calamities
- emergencies
- force majeure (act of God)
- other "jusifiable reasons" in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) issued by the DSWD
The Act, however, shall be without prejudice to the right and power of schools to require the submission of a promissory note, withhold records and credential of students and such other legal and administrative remedies available to them for the collection of unpaid fees.
Those found guilty of violating the Section 4 of the act shall be handed with an "administrative sanctions" by the DepEd, CHED and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
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