AUGUST 10, 2011

NR # 2491

House approves bill prohibiting no permit no exam policy in schools

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the bill banning and penalizing the no permit no exam policy in private and public schools. House Bill 4791 or the Anti-No Permit, No Exam Act of 2011 declares as unlawful the prohibition on students with due and unpaid tuition and other school fees to take the midterm or final examinations. Requiring the students to secure a permit to take the midterm or final examination from school authorities prior to the administration of the exams is likewise declared illegal. HB 4791 also prohibits the schools from compelling the 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. However, the measure allows the school authorities to withhold the release of the grades of a student with delinquent account until the unpaid tuition and other school fees plus interest charges are paid. HB 4791 likewise allows school authorities to deny admission or enrollment of any student with unsettled tuition or other school fees at the next succeeding semester classes or the next succeeding shortterm course until previous delinquencies are fully paid. The bill imposes a fine of P20,000 to P50,000 on higher education institution or technicalvocational institute official or employee, including deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, instructors and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating any of the unlawful acts enumerated in the measure. Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raymond Palatino, author of the lead bill HB 807, lauded the passage of the bill saying it is the States obligation to intervene and ensure that the young peoples right to education is not compromised due to financial difficulties. Rep. Juan Edgardo Sonny Angara (Lone District, Aurora), an author of the measure, said the bill seeks to protect both the rights of students and schools. Co-authors of the measure are Reps. Mark Villar (Lone District, Las Pinas City), Marcelino Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), Abigael Ferriol (PL-KALINGA), Carlo Lopez (2nd District, Manila), Eulogio Magsaysay (PL-AVE), Augusto Syjuco (2nd District, Iloilo), Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), Bernadette Herrera-Dy (PL-Bagong Henerasyon), Anthony Golez (Lone District, Bacolod City), Romero Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City), Rachel Marguerite Del Mar (1st District, Cebu), Emmeline Aglipay (PL-DIWA), Teddy Casino (PL-BAYAN MUNA), Luzviminda Ilagan (PL-GABRIELA), Neri Colmenares (PL-BAYAN MUNA), Antonio Tinio (PL-ACT TEACHERS), Rafael Mariano (PL-ANAK PAWIS), Maximo Dalog (Lone District, Mountain Province), Florencio Flores (2nd District, Bukidnon), Agapito Guanlao (PL-BUTIL), Jesus Celeste (1 st District, Pangasinan), Simeon Datumanong (2nd District, Maguindanao), Fatima Aliah Dimaporo (2nd District, Lanao del Norte), Eufranio Eriguel (2nd District, La Union), Joel Duavit (1st District, Rizal), Ma. Georgina De Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan), Angelica Amante-Matba (2nd District, Agusan del Norte), among others. (30) aam