CHED warns colleges against ‘no permit, no exam’ policy
As far as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is concerned, the “no permit, no final exam” is a no-no policy.
CHED-VI assistant regional director Engr. Rex Casiple said that the refusal of a college to allow a student to get a final examination would constitute a violation on the Manual of Regulation for Private Higher Education.
Under Section 99, Article 20 of the manual: “No HEI shall deny final examination for students who has outstanding financial or property obligation including unpaid tuition and other school fees corresponding to the school term.”
“Just because the student failed to pay his financial obligation doesn’t mean that he should be denied to take the final exam,” Casiple said.
He clarified, though, that the said regulation only covers the final examination.
Further, the manual also states, “however, the institution may withhold the final grades or may refuse re-enrolment. And then provided that in case the with holding of the final grades, the final grades are duly recorded and submitted to the registrar, together with the final grades of the rest of the students in the prescribed form.”
However, Casiple admitted that most students don’t know their rights.
The CHED assistant regional director said that sanctions await school administration that violates the said instruction.
The range of penalties, he added, depends on the weight of the violations committed
“It could be closure of the program or they would be allowed to increase tuition fee if they ask. Legal sanctions could be also slapped,” Casiple said.
Sometimes the refusal of the school to allow those who failed to pay their financial dues present disadvantage, especially to students who are running for honors.
Casiple narrated that a number of schools put different treatment on students who take late examinations.
“Since there is a possibility of leakage, even though the student gets a high score, the teacher will just give a passing grade,” he said.
Lately, CHED only received one complaint against such violation.
Casiple said that a student, together with his parents, went to CHED to complain a newly-opened school in Iloilo City.
“We immediately called the school’s president to allow the student to take the final examination, as we cited Section 99, Article 20 of the manual,” he narrated.
For CHED, there are a lot of ways to compel a student to pay his financial obligations but it doesn’t have to deny the student of taking the final exam.