SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III backed the passage of a bill that seeks to prohibit the ‘No Permit, No Exam’ policy in schools.

“This measure deserves our full support…as this is another way to help the poor and those temporarily challenged by circumstances,” Pimentel said.

He also proposed a ban on the imposition of additional fines and interest on unpaid tuition and school fees.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, sponsor of the measure, called the practice of imposing ‘no permit, no exam’ as the cruelest of fines.

The bill also prohibits the imposition of any policy that prevents students enrolled in public or private schools from taking examinations or any form of educational assessment for reasons of outstanding financial or property obligations such as unpaid tuition and other school fees.

The bill bans schools from compelling students, parents or legal guardians to pay a portion of the outstanding financial or property obligations prior to the administration of any examination or assessment.