School's Policy: 'No Permit, No Exam' Banned in PHL

Photo: Pinoy Weekly

"Good news," said Kabataan Party-list representative Raymond Palatino, one of the primary authors of House Bill 4791, This bill, banning the schools to impose their "no permit, no exam" policy has unanimously approved by the House of Representatives Wednesday.

One of the students' woes is the on time payment of their college tuition fees. Not all students can afford to pay their school financial obligations on schedule. When examinations day come, their parents are cracking their heads where to get the money to pay their children's school fees, especially for the mid-terms and final exams.

Parents' burden on this situation is quite lessened. Students also are quite relieved from the pressure, from humiliation and could concentrate on studying their subjects for the exams.

Studes, celebrate. "Panahon upang magsaya. Forget muna ang problema," sings Sampaguita, Filipino rock singer.

Anyway when this bill will become a law, those school officials who are requiring their students to settle first their financial obligation before they can take the exams, when found guilty will be fined of P20,000 to P50,000.

The passage of this bill is a warning to vocational schools, colleges, and universities here in the country, said Kabataan party-list Rep. Palatino. This 'no permit, no exam" policy of the school is “humiliating" when imposed especially upon the poor but deserving students.

In HB 4791, all students studying in vocational schools, colleges and universities in the country shall be allowed to take midterm and final examinations even with unpaid financial obligations to the school. It also prohibits school officials from compelling students to pay more than 30 percent of school fees before administering the exams.

The schools will permit their students to take the test, but will have to withhold the issuance of grades and clearances of students with unsettled fees. The Schools can also deny the admission or enrollment of such students until the fees are fully paid.

Senator Edgardo Angara, who heads the Senate committee on education, arts and culture, said they are also going to adopt the House version of the bill.

The bill will have to be approved by the Senate and ratified by both chambers before the President signs it into law.

What will be the next students' blues that will be addressed by the law makers? Exorbitant contributions for field trips? Acquaintance parties? Freshmen inductions?