Bong Go Pushes Bill to Penalize Schools Over “No Permit, No Exam” Policy
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go pushes a bill aiming to penalize schools implementing the “no permit, no exam” policy.
Senator Go is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1359, also known as the No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act. This bill seeks to penalize educational institutions that impose “no permit, no exam” policies on students solely because they have not paid their tuition or other school costs.
The “no permit, no exam,” according to the Senator, raises the load on parents while putting pressure on children who should be focused on learning. All public and private educational institutions, including elementary and secondary schools, postsecondary technical-vocational institutes, and higher education institutions, are included in the bill.
It also includes all students engaged in K–12 basic educational programs, certificates, diplomas, or degree programs at higher education institutions, or short-term courses at technical-vocational training institutes, based on the report.
“Kailangan po natin tanggalin ang ganitong klaseng burden sa students at kanilang magulang. The primary objective of schools is to provide learning opportunities for the development of the students’ intellectual, moral, physical and cultural aspects and not the other way around,” said Go.
“By imposing this unreasonable policy, schools are adding unnecessary pressure to students when they should be focusing on studying,” he added.
According to the bill, no educational institution, public or private, may establish a policy that precludes students who owe money or property from taking an examination or other sort of educational assessment.
Students, or their parents or legal guardians, must, nevertheless, prepare a promissory letter outlining when their obligation will be settled. Forcing the student or their parent to pay even a portion of an outstanding financial obligation is, however, illegal.
It would also ban the imposition of fines or interest on outstanding financial obligations in excess of the proposal’s maximum interest rate. If educational institutions are found to be in violation of the legislation, they will be punished with not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000 in each case.
“Bilang tagapangulo ng Senate committee on health, ang aking pangunahing interes ay ang pisikal at mental na kalusugan ng mga mag-aaral natin. Dapat hindi malipat sa kanila ang burden. Lagi po natin unahin ang kapakanan ng ating mga estudyante bago ang lahat,” said Go.
READ ALSO: Male Passenger Carries Signboard w/ Message for Ladies Showing Some Skin
What are your thoughts on this article? Just feel free to leave your reactions in the comment section.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. We aim to give the freshest and in-demand content to our visitors. Come back next time at PhilNews for more updated news.