Private schools say scrapping ‘no permit, no exam’ policy ‘destructive’

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MANILA, Philippines — An umbrella organization of all private schools in the Philippines has branded the looming “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act” as “destructive” to the operations of private schools, urging lawmakers anew to reconsider the passage of Senate Bill No. 1359.

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (Cocopea) said its members deem the proposed law as damaging to the “complementarity” of public and private education and an obstacle to quality education in the country.

“It will cause systemic damage to the private education sector, violate the complementarity of the public and private education sectors, and lead to less accessible quality education in the country,” Cocopea said, citing the separate statements of its member schools.

The organization claimed that approving Senate Bill No. 1359 is “tantamount to a death sentence” because it would compromise the financial viability of private schools as it would force them to cut corners in their operations. Cocopea added that passing the measure would “cause systemic damage to the private education sector.”

“The effects of the proposed policy will be both immediate and long-term,” it warned while appealing to lawmakers to defer their bicameral sessions for the measure to allow more consultations with all stakeholders.

Senate Bill No. 1359 will allow students to take their major examinations regardless if they have settled their tuition and other school fees. It covers elementary to tertiary and short-term vocational courses in all educational institutions.

Senate Bill No. 1359 is awaiting reconciliation with its counterparts House Bill No. 7584 that covers basic private institutions and House Bill No. 6483 that covers higher education institutions both public and private, according to Cocopea.

Deliberations at the bicameral conference committee are likely to take place soon, the organization added.

READ: BIZ BUZZ: Hobbling PH private schools

Cocopea pointed out that banning the “No Permit, No Exam” policy, which prevents students who have not paid their tuition and other fees from taking major examinations, could be seen as a compassionate move that protects the interests of the students.

But in reality, it stressed, the effects of such a ban would be detrimental. Unlike public schools whose operations are provided for by the government and enjoy substantial budget allocation among all line agencies, private schools rely on timely payments by their students to finance their day-to-day activities, Cocopea explained.

Banning the policy would “disrupt fee collection, which jeopardizes operational sustainability, timely payment of salaries and wages of school personnel and school viability. It would also lead to the down-sizing of operations, trigger closures, lead to the unemployment of personnel, and increase pressure on a strained public school system,” Cocopea said, still citing the separate statement of private schools.

READ: Banning ‘no permit, no exam’ policy puts schools in danger — Cocopea

According to Cocopea, Department of Education Order 15 s. 2010 already provides the mechanism to help lighten the burden of students’ families by allowing schools to offer installment plans and accept deferred payments. This is already being implemented by private schools, it said.

“The proposed bill discourages current practices of offering flexible payment options and leaves private schools with limited alternatives that may lead to conflicts between the private education sector and its stakeholders,” it said.

“Private schools have always adjusted in order to make private education accessible, especially during the pandemic. Private schools have been offering low downpayment and monthly payment schemes, extending payment deadlines and accepting promissory notes, giving discounts, and expanding scholarship opportunities,” it continued.

Cocopea said its member schools remain open to “engage in productive dialogue” to help in the crafting of “the most responsive policy for the growth and sustainability of Philippine education.”

READ: Some schools to close in 2 months if ‘no permit, no exam’ ban is imposed – PACU

The Cocopea has 3,622 educational and learning institutions among its member schools, colleges, and universities, covering more than 1.7 million students in both the basic education and higher education levels across the country.

Its members are the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP); Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU); Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU); Philippine Association of Private Schools, College, and Universities (PAPSCU); Unified TVET of the Philippines Inc. (UniTVET); Association of Private School Administrators-Division of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga (APSA); Davao Association of Private Schools and Administrators (DAPRISA); Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA); and National Alliance of Private Schools Philippines (NAPSPHIL).

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