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Villar Files Bill Penalizing “No Permit, No Exam” Policy
Sen. Cynthia Villar filed a bill that will penalize the imposition of a policy that prohibits students of post-secondary and higher education from taking their midterm or final examination or other similar assessments due to unpaid tuition and other school fees.
Senate Bill No. 722 or the “Anti-No Permit, No Exam Act of 2016” makes it unlawful to require the students to secure a permit from school authorities prior to the administration of midterm, periodic or final examination.
“It is typical for Filipino parents to sacrifice so much so that their children could get education. However, there are unavoidable circumstances at times when they could not meet the obligation to pay the tuition fee on time. Schools should be more compassionate towards students suffering from financial difficulties,” Villar said.
Villar, who served as chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education when she was Las Pinas Representative, said while the issuance of Commission on Higher Education memorandum Order 9 series 2013 prohibiting all 1,800 higher education institutions (HEI) in the country from implementing a ‘No permit, no exam” policy is commendable, a law that will penalize violators will be more effective in stopping this policy.
“We need to put in place a more considerate policy towards students undergoing financial difficulties. In the past, we have seen how this policy has caused humiliation, trauma and stress to students, as well as their families,” Villar said.
In 2013, the case of University of the Philippines- Manila freshman Kristel Tejada, caused a furor after she committed suicide because she could not pay her tuition fee. UP has since scrapped the ‘no late payment’ of tuition policy.
Under the bill, it is unlawful to compel students to pay upon enrollment a down payment or first installment equivalent to more than 30% of the total amount of tuition and other school fees for the entire semester or duration of the course.
Any HEI or tech-voc institute official or employee, including deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, instructors and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating any of the unlawful acts will be punished by a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P200,000.
