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Manila Bulletin, March 16, 2024 p.3
[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11984, March 11, 2024 ]
AN ACT MANDATING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO ALLOW DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS WITH UNPAID TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES TO TAKE THE PERIODIC AND FINAL EXAMINATIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act".
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education and to take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all.
To this end, the State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society. It shall also take into account the welfare of both the students and the educational institutions by exercising just and reasonable supervision of the latter and ensuring that educational opportunities are made available to students regardless of their economic status.
SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all public and private basic (K to 12) institutions, higher education institutions, and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs): Provided, That in the case of TVIs, this Act shall only cover long-term courses exceeding one (1) year.
SEC. 4. Mandate of Educational Institutions to Disadvantaged Students. - All public and private educational institutions covered by this Act are hereby mandated to accommodate and allow Disadvantaged Student unable to pay tuition and other fees to take the scheduled periodic and final examinations without requiring a permit: Provided, however, That in the case of K to 12 students, the mandate shall be for the entire school year: Provided, That the Municipal, City or Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, or the Regional Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as the case may be, shall issue the necessary certificate on the disadvantaged status of the student due to calamities, emergencies, force majeure and other food or justifiable reasons in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DSWD: Provided, further, That this Act shall be without prejudice to the right and power of educational institutions to require the submission of a promissory note, withhold records and credentials of students and such other legal and administrative remedies available to them for the collection of unpaid fees: Provided, finally, That educational institutions may voluntarily, without need of the certification mentioned herein, allow a Disadvantaged student with outstanding tuition and other fees to take examinations and release their relevant records and credentials in accordance with its policies, rules and regulations.
SEC. 5. Administrative Sanctions. - All covered public and private educational institutions found guilty of violating Section 4 of this Act shall be subject to administrative sanctions that may be imposed by the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, as the case may be.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DSWD shall, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations defining "Disadvantaged Student" and the criteria and requirements for, and effectivity of, the issuance of a certification to that effect by the Municipal, City or Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, or the Regional Office of the DSWD, to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with the Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
(SGD.) FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ | (SGD.) JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI |
Speaker of the House of Representatives | President of the Senate |
This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1359 and House Bill No. 7584, was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on December 6, 2023.
(SGD.) REGINALD S. VELASCO | (SGD.) RENATO N. BANTUG, JR. |
Secretary General House of Representatives | Secretary of the Senate |
Approved: MAR 11 2024
FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR. |
President of the Philippines |