House OKs bill vs ‘no permit, no exam’ school policy

The House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill prohibiting college and universities from disallowing students with unpaid school fees from taking examinations. The chamber approved House Bill 4791 on Wednesday banning the “no permit, no exam" policy and penalizing school officials who will refuse to administer exams to students with unsettled financial obligations. Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, one of the primary authors of the bill, said the passage of the measure serves as a warning to vocational schools, colleges and universities that implement the “humiliating" policy. “This is good news and it sends a message to schools to desist implementing the ‘no permit, no exam’ policy," he said in a statement Thursday. Under HB 4791, all students of 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. Schools’ rights The measure, however, empowers schools to withhold the issuance of grades and clearances of students with unsettled fees. Schools can also deny the admission or enrollment of such students until the fees are fully paid. If signed into law, any school employee or official found guilty of violating the provisions of the measure may be imposed with a fine ranging from P20,000 to P50,000. Sen. Edgardo Angara, who heads the Senate committee on education, arts and culture, said last May that the panel will likely adopt the House version of the bill. The bill will have to be approved by the Senate and ratified by both chambers before it can be submitted to Malacañang for the signature of the President. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News