Marcos signs law prohibiting ‘no permit, no exam’ policy in schools

President Marcos signed into law Republic Act 11984, or the “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act” that mandates all public and private schools to allow disadvantaged students with unpaid tuition and other school fees to their take periodic and final examinations without required permits.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.

A statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the law was signed by Marcos last March 11.

RA 11984 covers all public and private basic (K to 12) institutions, higher education institutions, and technical vocational institutions (TVIs) that offer long-term courses exceeding one year.

“All public and private educational institutions covered by this Act are hereby mandated to accommodate and allow Disadvantaged Students unable to pay tuition and other fees to take the periodic and final examinations without requiring a permit,” the law stated.

“Provided, however, that in the case of K to 12 students, the mandate shall be for the entire school year,” it added.

It’s the mandate of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to define “disadvantaged students”

Social welfare officers will be required to issue certificates on the disadvantaged students that they experienced calamities, emergencies, force majeure, and “other good or justifiable reasons” under the rules and regulations (IRR) to be issued by the DSWD.

Educational institutions may allow the student to take his examination and  release their relevant records and credentials per their policies, as well as rules and regulations.

They, however, may require the submission of a promissory note, withhold records and credential of students, and exercise legal and administrative remedies available for the collection of unpaid fees.

According to RA 11984, public and private educational institutions found violating the law may face administrative sanctions to be imposed by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The law will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who is the principal author of the bill, welcomed the enactment of Republic Act No. 11984. — Raymund Antonio