SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero wants educational institutions to be banned from implementing policies that prevent students from taking examinations or assessment because of unpaid tuition and other school fees.

Escudero said that this is included in Senate Bill 1359 or the proposed No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act which was approved on second reading.

The measure puts a stop to the ‘no permit, no exam’ policy imposed by some educational institutions — a practice which Escudero previously described as the cruelest of fines.

The senator explained that Section 6 of the bill prohibits the educational institutions from disallowing any student with outstanding financial obligations from taking examinations or any form of educational assessment.

The measure also bans policies requiring students to secure a permit to take an examination or any form of education assessment from the school authorities prior to the administration of such examination or assessment.

Under the bill, it is prohibited to compel any student or his or her parents or legal guardians to pay a portion of the outstanding financial or property obligations prior to the administration of any examination or assessment; or imposing fines, penalties, or interests on outstanding financial or property obligations.