Filtered By: Topstories
News

DepEd to meet with school owners over no-tuition-no-exam rule


Education officials will meet with private school owners to "appeal" to them to let students take their final examinations even if they have not fully paid their tuition. With the schedules for final exams drawing closer, Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Wilma Labrador on Tuesday stressed that it would be traumatic for students to be excluded from exams just because their parents have failed to pay the tuition. "Huwag silang palabasin, isali ang bata sa examination period. We might call a meeting of private schools and principals para ipaliwanag ang ganyang kadahilanan (School authorities should not send out pupils just because their parents have yet to pay the tuition. We may call a meeting of private schools and principals to discuss the matter)," Labrador said in an interview on dzXL radio. Labrador said that the DepEd is considering "suggesting" to private schools administrators to allow pupils with payable accounts to take the exams, but school records and credentials would be withheld until the tuition is paid. DepEd’s plan came after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) issued on Monday Memorandum Order 02, directing colleges and universities to let students with delinquent accounts to take school examinations. Taking its cue from the CHED’s memo, the DepEd, which has jurisdiction over elementary and high schools, is planning a similar move. No permit, no exam rule CHED’s memo also directed higher education institutions (HEIs) to be flexible in the implementation of the “no permit, no exam" policy which was earlier criticized by various student groups. CHED chairman Emmanuel Angeles said the memorandum is in accordance with Republic Act No. 7722, the Higher Education Act of 1994. Angeles said this seeks to provide accessibility and affordability of quality higher education, especially "in view of the unabated economic crisis brought about by circumstances worldwide as well as the recent calamities that the country faced last year." "In view of the ongoing premises, all concerned HEIs are hereby requested to extend all possible assistance to students with outstanding balances in tuition and other fees due to financial difficulties. They shall extend utmost flexibility in the implementation of the ‘no permit, no exam’ policy they are adopting, if any, and any such policies that prohibit students from taking their periodic or final exams due to unpaid school accounts," Angeles said in his memo. A promissory note guaranteed by their parents would be sufficient reason to allow students to take their exams, CHED’s memorandum order said. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT