THE BILL waiving the college entrance exam fees for qualified students has lapsed into law, according to Malacañang.

Republic Act No. 12006, or the Free College Entrance Examinations Act, will exempt qualified graduates and graduating students from payment of entrance examination fees administered by private higher education institutions.

Under the law, to be eligible for the free entrance exams, the graduate or graduating student must:

– be a natural-born Filipino citizen
– belong to the top 10 percent of the graduating class
– come from a family whose combined household income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority
– be required to apply for college entrance exams to any private higher schools within the country
– satisfy all the requirements of the private school

The Commission on Higher Education is authorized to determine and impose appropriate sanctions against private schools for violating the law.

CHED should also promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law within 60 days from its effectivity in coordination with the Department of Education.