The Coordinating Council of Private Education Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) has asked the Senate and the House of Representatives to defer the bicameral deliberations on the measure that will prohibit the “no-permit-no-exam” policy in private learning institutions.
In a statement, the COCOPEA said that if passed, Senate Bill (SB) 1359 and House Bill (HB) 7584 would impose “prohibitive provisions” that would affect the timely collection of tuition fees and would impact the operations of private institutions “still struggling to recover from the long school closures closed by the pandemic”.
On March 20, the Senate passed on the third and final reading SB 1359 while HB 7584 hurdled the second reading at the House of Representatives on March 21.
“We urge lawmakers to defer the bicameral committee deliberations and hear the private educational sector’s voice,” COCOPEA Spokesperson Bernard Villamor said in a press statement.
“We understand the intent of SB 1359 and B 7584 is to alleviate the financial burden on students and their families. However, it is also important to find a balanced solution that addresses the needs of both students and private educational institutions, without undermining the stability and quality of education these schools provide,” he added.
Members of the COCOPEA include the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities, the Unified Technical and Vocational Education and Training of the Philippines Inc., and the Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities.
Villamor said many private institutions were reliant on steady cash flow and warned that cutting it may result in job losses and disenfranchisement of students.
He also said private schools had mechanisms to help financially challenged students such as installment plans and scholarship programs but the passage of the law may force them to be “constrained to limit or altogether remove extending these options since it cannot be effectively enforced due to the proposed bills”.
“Our collective position is not against student support and assistance. But we hope our lawmakers could find more creative ways to help deserving students who are in need of financial assistance, but not at the expense of the private educational institutions’ sustainability and survival,” he added.
Villamor said private schools were willing to collaborate with legislators in exploring more options for the students.
“In conclusion, we urge our lawmakers to pause and reconsider the proposed bills and engage in a constructive dialogue with the private education sector to develop solutions that ensure both the financial stability of private institutions and the accessibility of education for all students,” Villamore said.
“By working together, we can overcome these challenges and build a brighter future for our students, our schools, and our nation,” he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News
