Manila: When she was in college, Mary Jane’s family faced dire straits after her father fell ill and their business crumbled. Mary Jane couldn’t pay her college fees at a privately-run university.
Exam time came: Mary Jane was not allowed to take it due to the unpaid fees. Frustrated and humiliated, she went home in tears.
Mary Jane is not alone. Numerous university students facing financial hardships and unable to pay fees on time in the Philippines find their names delisted from test takers.
It’s a cruel, long-standing practice strategically crafted to compel students and their parents or guardians to produce funds just before exam week.
Legislation
But now, things are about to change.
The Philippine Senate has officially endorsed the reconciled version of the proposed "No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act.”
On Wednesday, the move has been approved by the powerful Bicameral Conference Committee — also known as “Bicam”, a body convened to reconcile differences, when discrepancies arise between Senate and House versions of a proposed legislation. The committee then presents a report on the unified bill, approved by both chambers.
The reconciled act — a consolidation of Senate Bill 1359 and House of Representatives Bills 6483 and 7584 — seeks to eliminate the "no permit, no exam" practice.
2,116
Number of private universities in Philippines as of September 24, 2023.“The reconciled 'No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act' is one of the greatest legacies that we can leave behind. Finally, we can eliminate this long-standing practice,” Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who chairs the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA)
He assured fellow senators that the Bicam had strong backing from representatives of the education sector, notably led by the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA).
Cruel act
Escudero pointed out the cruelty of forcing a student to forfeit an exam, noting its potential to trigger adverse life-changing consequences.
The legislation not only addresses the "no permit, no exam" rule but also prohibits the implementation of any policy preventing students from taking exams due to outstanding financial or property obligations, such as unpaid tuition and other school fees.
No tuition forgiveness
However, the Bicolano senator clarified that the law does not mandate "tuition forgiveness".
The proposed law does not absolve students of their debts to schools. Instead, it advocates for the deferment of payment while allowing students to participate in examinations.
The Philippines has an under-developed student loan system.
As for Mary Jane, the experience cemented her resolve to work harder, earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, passed the board exams, and rose from the ranks. She’s now the CEO of a UAE-based company.
