Kabataan party-list and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), together with the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) in a joint press conference yesterday warned schools to strictly implement the ‘anti-no permit, no exam’ policy and allow students with pending arrears to take their examinations.
According to Rep. Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino of Kabataan, “Millions of college students have already begun taking their final examinations and we will ensure that all of them, especially those having financial difficulties in completing their tuition payment, are allowed by their schools …

As parents and students begin to anticipate the nearing graduation ceremonies, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino today filed House Resolution no. 995 urging the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to strictly implement the policy of simple graduation rites and the non-collection of exorbitant graduation fees.
Palatino said that “schools should not add burden to our parents and students by requiring them to pay for frivolous items and expenses. They have already gone through a lot of financial difficulty because of the expensive cost of …

Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino today welcomed Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Patricia Licuanan’s vow to instill reforms in the higher education sector.
“We look forward to Licuanan’s promise of reforms. We hope that she is up to the task of facing the education crisis head-on,” Palatino said.
Palatino said that to genuinely enact positive changes in the CHED, Licuanan should address yearly tuition and other fee increases and work to make the agency more accessible to students.
“The CHED must practice stronger regulatory powers over the unjust imposition of tuition and …

Kabataan Party-list Representative Mong Palatino today urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to address the ‘no permit, no exam’ policy in basic and secondary schools in the country.
In a letter sent to the DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus, Palatino said that parents of elementary and high school students are also complaining of the implementation of a ‘no permit, no exam’ policy in private elementary and high schools.
“So far, we have been receiving a steady stream of complaints from parents of high school students who have fallen victim to the “no-permit, …

After natural disasters claimed hundreds of lives in Metro Manila and Northern Luzon, KABATAAN Representative Mong Palatino today said the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education should develop and improve science courses focusing on climate change studies.
“Aside from the issue of the government’s flawed disaster-preparedness program, the recent tragedy that struck the nation is also a climate change issue. It is only appropriate that the country’s educational system produce graduates with expert knowledge on the real causes of climate change. Through this, genuine solutions can be crafted …

Budget should be used to stop fee hikes-youth solon
KABATAAN Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino slammed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for failing to regulate tuition as the House tackled the agency’s proposed 2010 budget in session today, citing that higher education institutions impose higher tuition rates year after year.
Data from CHED show that the average tuition rate per unit in schools went up from 312.80 in 2002 to 416.57 in 2008. “This only shows the agency’s inutility and inaction amid decreasing access to education,” the young solon said.
Palatino said that …