Senators on Friday, March 15 welcomed the enactment of Republic Act No. 11984 and are upbeat more students would be able to take school examinations despite facing financial challenges.
The new law will require all private and public educational institutions to accommodate and allow disadvantaged students to take the scheduled periodic and final examinations.
The law covers basic education institutions (K to 12), higher education institutions, and technical-vocational institutions.
“Hindi patas ang mundo, kaya nasa kamay nating mga mambabatas na gawing pantay ang laban ng buhay para sa lahat, lalo na sa mga hikahos at salat sa buhay. Ang alay natin sa kanila ay kayamanang hindi kailanman mananakaw: ang edukasyon (The world is not fair, so it is in the hands of our legislators to make the battle of life equal for everyone, especially the poor and poor in life. Our gift to them is a treasure that will never be stolen: education),” Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. said in a statement.
Revilla said he is optimistic the new law will also open more doors for financially-challenged students, saying their lack of financial means should even be supplanted with opportunities which the State must afford to them.
The new law also provides that compels local social welfare development officers in the municipality, city, or province, or the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to issue the necessary certificate on the disadvantaged status of the students due to calamities, emergencies, force majeure, and other good or justifiable reasons.
“Let us continue to advocate for the Filipino youth so that they may reach greater heights,” Revilla said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also thanked President Marcos for signing the measure into law as this would ensure that financial difficulties will not hinder the country’s disadvantaged students from meeting their academic requirements on schedule.
“At the same time, it provides for interventions that educational institutions may enforce for students with outstanding obligations,” Gatchalian said.
“Ultimately, our students and their families will be the ones to benefit most from this law,” added the lawmaker.
With this development, Gatchalian called on educational institutions to comply with the law and remain faithful to its spirit.
“It is time we put an end to this long-time practice to uphold the welfare of our students,” he said.