A new bill has been filed in the Senate intending to ban the “no permit, no exam” rule implemented in many schools, universities, and colleges across the country. This policy prohibits students who still have unpaid financial dues to take their exams.
Senate Bill 1235, filed by Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, chairman of the Senate education committee, hopes that will no longer be the case in the future. Once the bill gets approved, it will cover “private grade schools and high schools, public and private post-secondary technical-vocation institutes, universities and colleges,” reported Rappler.
Meanwhile, parents or legal guardians of the students will be required to write a promissory note to ensure that they will meet their unpaid commitments. The note should indicate both the amount and date of payment.
“This legislation will greatly benefit students and families who suffer financial distress during the examination season and uphold the dignity of every student in schools,” emphasized Sen. Aquino.
The said bill likewise prohibits the practice of requiring students to secure a special permit from the school before taking their exams.
In an explanatory note, Sen. Aquino pointed out that this is a “discriminatory practice” that should be done away because it adds unnecessary anxiety to students and parents who are unable to pay on time.
Once implemented, schools that violate the new rule may face a fine of Php 20,000 to Php 50,000.
The senator was also quick to point out that the bill seeks to protect schools “by putting in place measures that protect [their] right to fair payment for tuition and miscellaneous fees.”
The measure tells us that “The school shall reserve the right to pursue the recovery of the unpaid tuition fees through proper court action where civil rights and liabilities may be judicially established and collected. This shall not prohibit the student, parents, or legal guardians to seek informal means of resolving tuition fee disputes or enter into an agreement with the school before proceeding to court.”
via: rappler