MARCOS SIGNS LAW PROHIBITING ‘NO PERMIT, NO EXAM’ POLICY

STUDENTS with unpaid tuition and other school fees could now take periodic and final examinations following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signing of Republic Act 11984 or the “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act.”

The law, signed by the President on March 11, shall cover all public and private basic (K to 12) institutions, higher education institutions, and technical vocational institutions (TVIs).

“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,” the law stated.

“Provided, however, that in the case of K to 12 students, the mandate shall be for the entire school year.”

Also, the municipal, city and provincial social welfare and development officer, or the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall issue the necessary certificate on the disadvantaged status of the student due to calamities, emergencies, force majeure, and other good or justifiable reasons in accordance with the rules and regulations (IRR) issued by the DSWD.

Further, the Act shall be without prejudice to the right and power of the educational institutions 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.

All covered public and private educational institutions found guilty of violating Section 4 of the Act shall be subject to administrative sanctions that may be imposed by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).The DSWD, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations (IRR) defining “Disadvantaged Student” and the criteria and requirements for the effectivity of the issuance of necessary certifications by different entities involved to effectively carry out the law.