CHED orders schools to lift no permit, no exam policy

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has ordered private higher education institutions (HEIs) and state universities and colleges to be “flexible” in implementing the “no permit, no exam” policy on their students.

CHED chairman Emmanuel Angeles issued Memorandum Order 3 last Jan. 22, directing HEIS to “allow students with delinquent accounts to take school examinations.”

Rep. Raymond Palatino of the Kabataan party-list commended CHED for giving the order, saying it will be a big help to poor students whose parents have a hard time paying their tuition.

Palatino said the issuance of CMO 3 was regarded by their party-list as CHED’s response to House Bill 6799, which seeks to legislate a prohibition on the enforcement of the “no permit, no exam policy” in schools, which he filed on Sept. 10, 2009.

He said the issuance of the memo is very timely because schools are now in their midterm examination period.

“We are urging all 1,781 HEIs to comply with the memo. This would especially benefit the 88 percent of our students who are studying in private schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, Palatino urged students to report non-compliance of school administrations to the CHED directive.

“We also extend our aid to CHED in the monitoring of reports and complaints from students regarding this matter,” Palatino said. – Rainier Allan Ronda, Philippine Star