HEIs can't impose 'no permit, no exam' policy - CHED

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has thrown its regulatory muscle behind the Kabataan party list group in an effort to stop private higher education institutions (HEIs) from imposing the “no permit, no exam” policy much decried by college students and their parents.

In a joint CHED and Kabataan press conference at the CHED central office in the UP Diliman complex in Quezon City, CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo said the “no permit, no exam” policy violated the Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education.

Vitriolo cited Section 99 of the said Manuel of Regulations which says that “No higher education institution shall deny final examinations to a student who has outstanding financial or property obligations, including unpaid tuition and other school fees corresponding to the school term.”

“However, the institution may withhold the final grades or may refuse re-enrollment of such student,” the said rule stated.

“They have options to compel the payment of these fees such as the non-release of school grades or transcript of records or declining re-enrollment of the erring student. They don’t have to resort to the no permit, no exams policy,” Palatino said.

Vitriolo said that the said Manuel of Regulations was effectively the law governing private schools. “It has the force and effect of a law,” Vitriolo said in the press conference.