Private school groups in the Philippines warn that the private education system will collapse if the “No Permit, No Exam” Prohibition bills are passed into law.
In a statement signed by the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU), Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAPSCU), Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU), and Unified TVET of the Philippines, Inc (UniTVET), the groups reiterated that if the bills are enacted into law, many private schools will be forced to close down, thousands of teachers and school staffers will lose their jobs, and thousands of students will be disenfranchised.
Senate Bill 1359, which covers private schools from elementary to tertiary and short-term vocational courses, House Bill 7584, which covers basic private institutions, and House Bill 6438, which covers higher education institutions, are currently pending at the Bicameral Conference Committee, which will harmonize conflicting provisions between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the measure.
“Without tuition, or if its timely collection is impaired, private schools would be paralyzed, or worse, cease or close operations altogether. Simply put, if the law deprives them of reasonable collection of tuition, our private educational sector will collapse, and ultimately the entire Philippine education system, owing to its vital role in the delivery of education to Filipinos,” the statement said.
“We witnessed how financially vulnerable the private schools are during the pandemic. Owing to the sudden and sharp decrease of student enrollment, hundreds of private schools closed down since they were unable to sustain operations.
These closures disrupted access to education and resulted to unemployment. Displaced students transferred to the already overwhelmed public school system, and thousands of teachers and school employees lost their jobs. This will likely be the same scenario for our private schools should this bill be passed into law,” the groups argued.
The private school groups reiterated that a PACU study shows that if the NPNE policy is prohibited, tuition fee collections will only be able to cover operating expenses for two months on average.
“After which, colleges and universities would run out of operating cash and would need to find external and other sources of financing (such as loans) to cover their costs,” the private schools explained.
“Similar to the government’s reliance on taxes for its operations, private educational institutions depend on tuition for its continued operations and provision of education to their students. This is because tuition is the lifeblood of every private educational institution, whether it be basic or higher education,” they added.
In another statement, the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) claimed that the No Permit, No Exam Prohibition bills are not pro-student.
“The pro-student (or learner or pupil) posture is deceptive. While allowing the student to take exams without paying contractual obligations incurred in enrollment (Sec 2), it does not relieve the student – or his/her parents or guardians – from fulfilling contractual obligations,” DACS officials said.
“Students who in private schools, therefore, find no long-term relief in this Senate Bill. If they are poor, they will nevertheless have eventually to pay their financial obligations – if not to take an exam, in order to see the grade of an exam, or in order to continue to the next semester, or in order to receive one’s diploma. Otherwise, teachers and professors in private schools cannot be paid. And the public service of private education falls,” they explained.
For its part, the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) is strongly urging lawmakers to put the Bicameral Conference Committee meeting on hold, pending a comprehensive review of the proposed measures.
“These proposed policies were passed with undue haste and without adequate consultation with the stakeholders directly affected by them. If enacted into law, they will have devastating repercussions for thousands of small private schools across the country,” ACSCU President Judge Benjamin Turgano said.
“The Second Congressional Commission on Education was tasked by Congress to conduct a comprehensive review of the country’s education system. SB 1359, HB 7584, and similar bills should be put on hold until the completion of such critical reviews. It is essential to hear the voice of the private educational sector and ensure that their concerns are addressed before enacting policies that will significantly impact their operations and viability. It is crucial to act with prudence and deliberation in making decisions that affect the education sector and the future of our nation,” he explained.
