The Senate approved the measure seeking to prohibit the 'no permit, no exam' policy to promote the right of all citizens to quality education.
Senate Bill No. 1359, also known as “‘No Permit, No Exam’ Prohibition Act,” aims to ensure access to educational services regardless of personal or socioeconomic circumstances.
Under the bill, any policy that prevents students enrolled in public or provide educational institutions from taking examinations or any form of educational assessment for the reason of outstanding finances is prohibited.
"No public or private educational institutions shall impose any policy to prevent students with outstanding financial or property obligations, such as unpaid tuition and other school fees, from taking examinations or any form of educational assessment with the rest of the student body," the bill read.
SB No. 1359 listed the following interventions against students with outstanding financial:
- Withhold the release or issuance of grades, diplomas, or certificates
- Deny admission or enrolment in the succeeding school year, short-term course, or semester
- Refuse the issuance of applicable clearances
- Pursue the settlement of outstanding financial or property obligations through appropriate court action
Meanwhile, the following acts committed by any educational institution shall be prohibited:
- Disallowing any student with outstanding financial or property obligations from taking examinations or any form of educational assessment with the rest of the student body
- Requiring any student to secure a permit to take an examination or any form of education assessment from the school authorities before the administration of such examination or assessment
- Compelling any student or his or her parents or legal guardians to pay a portion of the outstanding financial or property obligations before the administration of any examination or assessment
- Imposing fines, penalties, or interests on outstanding financial or property obligations
Violators of the Act will be punished by a fine of not less than P20,000.00, but not more than P50,000.00 for each case.
