No permit, no exam is now illegal

Dear PAO,

My husband got involved in a motor vehicle accident, and he was unable to go to work for a prolonged period of time. Thus, we were unable to pay our daughter's tuition on time. I'm afraid that she won't be able to take her scheduled periodic and final exams since she won't be issued exam permits. I'm a housewife, so we just depend on my husband's income. Can our daughter be allowed to take her periodic and final exams even if we haven't settled her school fees? Thank you.

Kristine

Dear Kristine,

To end the shaming and discrimination of less fortunate students, all public and private educational institutions are now mandated by law to accommodate and allow disadvantaged students, who are unable to pay tuition and other fees, to take the scheduled periodic and final examinations without requiring a permit. This is specifically provided under Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 11984, otherwise known as No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act, which states that:

«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 Students 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 (OSWD), 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 good 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