STUDENT leaders on Friday urged the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to act immediately on the complaints of parents and students that there are still colleges and universities not complying with the “no permit, no exam policy.”
The complaints were gathered by the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) through “Student Report Hotline.”
Bringing with them a copy of the complaints, the students trooped to the Ched office at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City seeking an audience with Ched officials.
“We come to Ched today to furnish chairman Emmanuel Angeles a copy of the complaints we have gathered from parents and students through our Student Report Hotline. We have received reports that some colleges and universities still do not comply with Ched memo No. 02 of 2010, which orders schools to allow students with arrears to take examinations,” NUSP National President Einstein Recedes said.
“The onslaught of typhoons late last year and the current economic crunch have made it difficult for many parents and students to afford the rising cost of education. We appeal to Ched to be very strict in implementing the anti-no-permit no-exam policy,” Recedes added.
Earlier, Ched chairman Dr. Emmanuel Angeles issued Memorandum Order 02 Series of 2010 directing higher education institutions (HEI) to be flexible in the implementation of the “no permit, no exam” policy which was earlier criticized by various student groups.
Angeles said the memorandum is also in accordance with Republic Act 7722 otherwise known as the Higher Education Act of 1994.
The order also directed HEIs to allow students to take their exams through the execution of a promissory note guaranteed by their parents.
A promissory note guaranteed by their parents would be sufficient reason to allow students to take their exams, Ched’s memorandum order said.
The Ched memo was released last week in response to House Bill 6799 or the “Anti-No-Permit, No-Exam Policy” filed by the Kabataan Party-list September last year.
The memo’s release was also in time for the mid-term examinations in most colleges and universities
Vijae Alquisola, CEGP National President, said: “This welcome development would not have happened if it weren’t also for the students and youth who continually assert for their right to quality and accessible education.”
Recedes warned that while the Ched memo provides relief for many parents and students, fundamental educational reforms still have to be realized.
“The deregularized increase of tuition in schools, for one, is a serious problem that the Arroyo government and Ched should address. The NUSP, together with other youth groups like CEGP and Kabataan party-list, have come up with ‘Ronda Eskwuela’ to monitor tuition increases in schools for the next academic year. We will hop around schools to gather data on tuition hikes. We will engage Ched on this matter,” Recedes said.
At the same time, both groups urged parents and students to continue reporting their complaints regarding school concerns in the Student Report Hotline at 09277515365 or (02)352-1054. (AH/Sunnex)