There are no more excuses for the students not to take periodic and final examinations because of unsettled financial obligations, following the signing into law of Republic Act No. 119841.
There are no more excuses for the students not to take periodic and final examinations because of unsettled financial obligations, following the signing into law of Republic Act No. 119841.
This covers all public and private basic (K–12) institutions, higher education institutions, and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) long-term courses.
On the other hand, in 2017, RA 10931, or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, was signed into law, which provides a free college education and student loan program to students at state universities and colleges.
Given that mandate, there are still some considerations to be eligible for the law:
- For K–12 students, “the mandate shall be for the entire year.”
- Receive a certificate of disadvantage status from any Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office by means of calamities, emergencies, force majeure, and other justifiable reasons.
- Educational institutions voluntarily allow disadvantaged students to take examinations.
“This act shall be without prejudice to the right and power of the 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,” the new law further stated.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary, Cheloy Garafil, the DSWD shall take consultation on the development of rules and regulations concerning the definition of qualified “disadvantage students.”
“Garafil said the DSWD, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations defining "disadvantaged students" and the criteria and requirements for the effectiveness of the issuance of necessary certifications by different entities involved to effectively carry out the law,” the PCO added.