HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Congress
Tie

INTRODUCED BY: JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Social responsibility and a sense of accountability for national
development should always be nurtured among our youth. Besides the
technical skills provided by the academe, it should also be a venue that
contribute to their holistic development. Universities should be a place for
shaping and building character and a deep sense of nationalism among our
youth.

A student's right to organize and join student organizations should not
only be protected but also promoted by the State as defined and guaranteed
by the Constitution of the Philippines and by international statutes protecting
academic freedom

The Magna Carta for student rights and welfare should approximate
the highest level of practice the student population enjoys presently. It is a
fact that even without any existing law on student rights and welfare, there
were inroads and significant gains that were achieved by the students
especially during the martial law years.

Unfortunately, these basic rights are not enforced and embedded in
educational institution’s rules and regulations and policies. Democratic rights
and academic freedoms often fall and subject to the interpretation and
tolerance of the school administrations.

At present a few school enjoys these rights and academic freedom.
Therefore the spirit of enacting this law for student rights and welfare should
be guided with the recognition of student potentials and their capacity to
contribute in social transformation.

The benchmark for any landmark law on student rights and welfare
should be based on the presently enjoyed rights and welfare in certain
universities like UP and PUP. To do otherwise will be a form of repression
and curtailment of rights masquerading as a move to champion student
rights and academic freedom.

It should also be noted that the basic right to accessible quality
education should be included and serve as a basis for any Magna Carta for


students. The premise should be that the students are able to afford
education and then enjoy his rights as a student. Therefore, the basic spirit
of any Magna Carta for student rights and welfare ‘should begin with
ensuring the right to quality accessible education for all.

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Ps.
eo "7" xe

INTRODUCED BY: JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR STUDENTS’ RIGHTS
AND WELFARE

Be_enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

I. General Provisions

Section. 1. Title: This law shail be called “Magna Carta of Students
Rights and Welfare Act”.

Section. 2. Declaration of Policy: It is hereby dectared to be the
policy of the State to promote and protect the rights of students to
enable them to participate actively and effectively in the democratic
processes of effecting progress and development changes in society.

Section. 3.Guiding principies: This Act shall be guided by the
following basic principles

a. Education is a right of every Filipino. The educational system being
the principal institutional mechanism for imparting knowledge and
developing talents and skills shall be given priority attention and
support by the government.

b. It is the responsibility of the State to provide quality and accessible
education for all Filipinos at afl levels.

¢. Student associations and or organizations are venues for the youth
to train them by participating in different activities, promote their
intelectual development and instilt a sense of social responsibitity
as future leaders of our nation.

d. The right of student to organize and free speech shail be protected.
Student organizations shail not be subjected to any rules and
regulations that hamper or infringe on their basic rights to organize
and express their views and opinion.

e, Student publications are the main conduit of the students to
freedom of expressing their ideas. The State shall protect and
promote campus journalism in every university, facilitate in


establishing student publication in schools where there is none and
uphold and protect the freedom of the press at the campus level.

Sec.4. Definition of Terms. The following terms shall mean:

a. Student - Any person enrolled in and regularly attending school in
the secondary, graduate and post graduate level inctuding
vacational and technical education.

ca

. School — Any private, public, government-run and funded academic
educational institution offering any or ail courses in the above-
mentioned levels.

fy

. School Campus - The totality of all contiguous or proximate
buildings, grounds and other facilities designated by the schoot as
areas or facilities for the use of its students.

a

. Governing Board - the highest policy making body of the school
composed of the Board of Directors, Trustees and Regents.

o

. Student Council / Government - the body representing the whole
student population in one schoot or schoot campus whose officers
are annually elected at large by the whole student population
pursuant to its Constitution and By-laws, if any.

f. Council of Leaders — the body composed of the heads of various
student organizations chaired by the president/chairman of the
Student Council/Government.

g. Student organization - an association or group of students bound
by common ideals, principles, visions and interests and working
towards achieving and realizing their goals and aspirations.

h, Student publication — publications managed and published by
students which are autonomous and independent from other
sectors of the school. Any printed issue and/or online materials
such as, but not limited to, newspapers, wall news, literary folios,
newsletters and other similar forms.

i. Tuition - the fee representing direct costs of instruction, training
and other related activities, and the use of school facilities. The
term “other school fees” refers to fees which covers other necessary
costs supportive of instruction, including but not limited to medical
and dental, athletic, library, laboratory and NSTP fees.

II. Admission, Non-Discrimination and Quality Education


Section 5. Right to Admission and Non-Discrimination: No
Student shall be denied admission to any school after complying with
reasonable and equitable admission requirement. No student shall be
denied admission on account of his/her physical handicap, socio-
economic status, political or religious belief, sexual orientation or
membership in student organizations. Pregnant students, certified
reformed drug users, and those suffering from the Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome will not be discriminated against.

Section 6. Right te Choose Field of Study: A student shail have
the right to freely choose his/her field of study subject to existing
curricula, and to continue his/her course up to graduation except in
cases of academic deficiency or violation of disciplinary regulations
which do not infringe upon the exercise of student rights.

Section 7. Right to Competent Instruction and Relevant Quality
Education: Every student shall have the right to competent
instruction and quality education relevant to his/her chosen field of
study and for his/her personal growth. To aid this goal, schools and
educational institutions are required to conduct reasonable and
equitable evaluation of performance of teachers at the end of every
semester/trimester.

There shall be one (1) student representative in the body or committee
which screens incoming faculty members. The student representative
should be an elected Student Council official endorsed by themselves.
or a duly appointed student endorsed by the Student Council.

Section 8. Right to Adequate Welfare Services and Academic
Facilities: It shall be the responsibility of the school administration to
provide students with adequate welfare services and academic
facilities. These services and facilities shall include:

a. Adequate laboratory, library, recreation and physical education
facitities;

b. Free annual physical check-up;

c. Counseling;

d. Communication system to ensure prompt notification of letters and
relevant information;

e, Safe and clean student housing such as dormitories. In cases that
schools do not have dormitories and housing facilities, the school
administration and the student council shail be required to accredit
out-of-campus student housing facilities such as boarding houses;
and

f. Legal assistance in cases involving the exercise and enjoyment of
rights and freedoms stipulated in this act.


III. Right to Organize and Freedom of Association

Section 9. Right to Organize and to Associate. The right of
students to form, join, actively participate in any campus organization,
association, alliance or federation for their physical, intellectual, moral,
cultural, civic, spiritual and political interests shall not be curtailed,
suppressed nor abridged. Such student formations shall be treated as
independent from school or any of its departments, and as separate
and distinct juridical entities.

Pursuant thereto, the practice of making the students sign waiver
documents which state that they are not members of and will not join
a specified organization before being allowed to enroll is hereby
prohibited.

Section 10. Accreditation of Student Organizations. No student
organization or association shall be denied accreditation after fulfilling
@ reasonable and equitable accreditation requirement unless the same
is created for purposes contrary to law in accordance with the 1987
constitution.

There shall be an Accreditation Board on Campus Organizations that
shall take charge of the accreditation of all student organizations in the
school campus. It shall be composed of:

a. Two (2) representatives from the student organizations duly elected
by the heads of all accredited student organizations in the school.

b. Representative from the Student Council/Government

c. Representative from the Student Affairs Office

d. Representative from the school Faculty selected by their association

Section 11. Right to Hold Activities: Student organizations and
associations shall have the right to conduct activities inside and
outside campus. Any Student activity for purposes not contrary to law
shall not be abridged.

The school administration shall not discriminate in the assignment of
school facilities and the granting of other privileges to student
organizations. The school administration shall provide, free of charge,
a space, hall or building to house the offices of the different student
organizations within the school campus.

Excessive fees or unreasonable charges for the use of school facilities
such as function rooms shall be prohibited. Whenever possible, the
school administration shall allow organizations to use school facilities
free of charge.

Sec.12. Prohibited Acts of Restraints Against the Right to
Organize and Associate: Acts that impair the rights of students to
organize are prohibited, such as:


a. Signing of waivers or similar documents that use membership to
any organization as a basis for admission to or expulsion from
schools, including the imposition of disciplinary actions;

b, Imposition of unreasonable requirements on student organizations
seeking recognition, such as but not limited to: imposition of
minimum size of membership and the imposition of unreasonable
community service duties;

¢. Discriminatory policies in the assignment of school facilities and in
granting other privileges to student organizations;

d. Imposing any user fees and other charges for the use of school
facilities on the basis that such facilities are already being paid for
through tuition and other fees;

e. Imposition of requirements for admission and continued
membership to a student organization that are contrary to law.

Sec.13. Right to Establish a Student Council or Government:
There shalt be one university student council or government for each
school, college or university campus that shall be recognized by the
schools, colleges, and universities concerned. It shall have its own set
of officers elected in an annual popular election; provided that the
previous practices in choosing student council or government officers,
except in cases of appointment by the school administration, prior to
the effectivity of this Act shall be recognized. (Although for these
schools whose student council is appolnted by the school
administration, a student council election should be held immediately
to choose student representatives among themselves.)

Sec.14.The Student Council Constitution: There shall be a
constitution or a charter of the student council or government crafted
by the heads or representatives of all accredited student organizations
ratified by a simple majority (50% plus 1) of the students who cast
their votes in a ratification that shalt lay down the rights, privileges,
functions and responsibilities of the student council or government. To.
protect the right of unaffitiated students, the student council shall
devise a mechanism to ensure their representation and participation in
the crafting of the constitution.

For schools with existing charters and/or constitution for student
councils or government that have been previously ratified by the
students, it will remain in effect even after the implementation of this
Act.

Sec.15. Right to Policy-Making on Student Activities: Every
student council or government shall have the right to determine its
policies and programs on student activities subject to the student
council or government charter or constitution and to school ruies and
regulations; provided that the latter does not infringe on basic student
rights and freedoms of students;


Sec.16. Student Council Elections: There shail be an
independent Commission on Elections (COMELEC) that shall oversee
and facilitate the honest, orderty, and peaceful conduct of election of
officers of the student council or government. The COMELEC shail be
composed only of bona fide students and shall be chosen by the
Council of Leaders from the list of nominees provided by the student
organizations. The school must provide sufficient funds to the
COMELEC to ensure that it is able to function.

Sec.17. Student Council Funds: There shall be a fee to be
collected from the students to finance the operations of the student
council or government in consultation with the student body. The
school administration shall facilitate the collection of the student
council or government fee during enrollment period and shall turn over
the collected amount to the student council or government within (15)
days after the last day of enrollment.

The student council fee will be based on a reasonable and equitable
basis. The collection of this fee will be collected by the administration
and or by the student council. If the mode of collection of fees will be
facilitated by the administration, for these purpose, the number of
bona fide students enrolled for the current semester or term shall be
used as basis for the amount of the student council funds that shalt be
released by the school administration who shall issue a fist of the
students enrolled for the current semester or term to the student
council.

The student council ar government shall issue to the student body a
financial report at the end of its term. To take effect, a proposal to
increase the student council or government fee shail require a vote of
simple majority of the total votes cast in a referendum.

Sec.18. Student Council Facuity Adviser: The appointment of a
faculty adviser shall not be a requisite to the establishment and
recognition of a student council. Should the students, through the
student council constitution or charter, decide to have a faculty
adviser, the student council shall have the right to choose the person
to hold such position from among the school faculty, whose functions
shall be limited to technical assistance. The approval of the faculty
adviser shall not be a precondition to the execution of any student
council activity.

Sec.19. Right to Join Student Council Alliances and Similar
Formations: No policy restricting the right of student councils or
governments to join federations or alliances of student councils or
goverment shall be imposed by the school administration.


IV. Right to expression and Free Speech

Sec.20. Right to Freedom of Expression: Students shall have
the right to freely exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful
assembly and free speech and expression, or petition the school
authorities for redress or any grievances. No school regulation shall be
imposed violating or abridging any of the above mentioned rights. No
student may be subjected to any disciplinary action solely on the basis
of any of the above mentioned rights unless it is outside the confines
of freedom of expression.

Sec.21. Right of Access to Mass Media: Students shall have
access to print and broadcast media in their respective activities. They
shall have the right to print, circulate, and/or mount leaflets,
newsletters, posters, wall news, petitions and other such materials.
School authorities shall ensure the provision of such facilities as
bulletin boards for the aforementioned materiats.

Sec.22. Proportionality of Offense and Sanction: If the
exercise of any such constitutional rights is determined to be outside
the confines of freedom of expression upon compliance of due process,
the concept of proportionality between the offense committed and the
sanction imposed shall be followed, provided that the penalty of
expulsion, exctusion or forced transfer and the like shall not be
imposed for any infraction or improper conduct that may arise by
reason of exercise of any of such constitutional rights.

Sec.23. Right to Publish a Student Newspaper and Other
Similar Publications: (a) all educational institutions on elementary,
secondary and tertiary levels, public or private, shall be mandated to
establish an independent student publication. Every school shal! have
at least one (1) student publication without prejudice to other
publications established within the campus. A student publication shall
be published by the student body through an editorial board and
publication staff composed of students through fair and competitive
examinations.

SEC.24 Revival of closed Student publications: Ail student
publications whose operations ceased upon directives of the school
administration shall be revived and allowed to operate again. Once the
publication is established or reopened, the editorial board shall freely
determine its editorial policies and manage the publication funds.

Sec.25. Student Publication Funds: Funding for the student
publication shal! be sourced primarily from student publication fees
collected by the school administration. It shall be mandatory for the
school administration to collect the student publication/subscription
fees during enrollment period. The members of the student publication


can opt to collect the publication funds themselves upon their initiative
and under full discretion and without administrative intervention. For
these purposes, the number of bona fide students enrolled In a current
semester or term shall be used as basis for the amount of publication
funds that shall be released by the school administrator who shall
issue a list of the students enrolled for the current semester or term
of the editorial board.

The school administration shall effect the automatic release of the
student subscription fees ta the student publication within fifteen (15)
days after the last day of enrollment. The publication funds shall be
deposited through a trust fund or in the account of the student
publication in an authorized depository bank.

In no instance shail the Commission on Higher Education, Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Department of
Education, as the case may be, or the school administration
concerned, withhold the release of funds intended for the student
publication.

Sec.26. Student Publication Adviser: The editorial board shatl have
the discretion whether or not they will appoint a faculty adviser. In
case the student publication decides to appoint a faculty adviser, the
editorial board shall have the power to choose its adviser, whose
functions shall be fimited merely to technical assistance. The approval
of the faculty adviser shall not be a pre condition to publication of
written material or photographs.

Sec.27. Independence of Student Journalists and Freedom from
Threat: Members of the student publication shall not be suspended,
expelled or punished with administrative sanctions solely on the basis
of the articles he/she has written except when such articles constitute
a violation of the law. A student journalist’s academic performance as
a student shall not be used as basis foer his or her dismissal from the
student publication.

Sec.28. Management of the Student Publication and Funds: The
editorial board shall be primarily accountable with regard the operation
of the student publication and management of its funds. At the end of
each semester or term, as the case may be, the editorial board shall
prepare a report of disbursement of funds subject to accounting and
auditing rules. Such report shall be posted at the school’s bulletin
board or published in the school publication.

Sec.29. Printing of the Student Publication: The printing of the
student publication shall be conducted by the editorial board and the
Student publication staff through canvass or public bidding. For public
schools, the student publication shall be exempted from undergoing
formal bidding process under Republic Act 9184 also known as the


Procurement Act with regard the selection of a printing press and
purchase of equipment and materials necessary for its operations. The
editorial board shall freely choose the printing press it wants to avail
the services of.

Vv. Academic Freedom of Students

Sec.30. Academic Freedom: Student's academic freedom shall
consist of, but not limited ta, the following:

a. To conduct research in connection with academic work, and to
freely discuss and publish their findings and recommendations;

b. To conduct inquiry in curricular and extra-curricular activities within
the campus and in appropriate circumstances;

c. To choose a field of study for research and to pursue the quest for
truth; to express their opinion on any subject of public or general
concem which directly or indirectly affects the students or the
educational system;

d. To invite off-campus speakers or resource persons to student
sponsored assemblies, for a, symposia, and other activities of
similar nature;

e. To express dissenting opinions inside and outside the classroom;

f. To participate in the drafting of a new curriculum and in the review
or revision of the old;

g. To participate in the drafting and/or revising of the student
handbook which shall include the school rules and regulations, a
copy of which shall be furnished the students upon admission to the
school;

h, To freely discuss and criticize university policies and national
policies.

VI. Right to Information

Sec.31. Right to be informed: The right of students to information
on matters directly or indirectly affecting their welfare shall be
recognized. Access to official records and other pertinent documents
and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions shall be
afforded the students subject only to reasonable regulations.

VIZ. Right to Participate in Policy Making

Sec.32. Participation in policy-making process in schools: There
shali be student representative in the Governing Board of the school.
The chairman/president of the student council or any designated
representative chosen by the heads of various local college student
councils shall be the student representative and shall have the same
rights as those of a regular member, Provided, that his/her privileges
shall be limited to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in


attending meetings. The same rights shall be granted to secondary
level.

The students shall aiso be represented in other policy-making bodies
which directly affect their welfare, especially in curriculum drafting,
review and revision, student discipline and academic standards. The
representatives shall be designated by the student council.

Sec.33. Participation in National Policy-Making: Representatives
of national student organizations shall actively participate and possess
voting powers in the formutation of national policies by the
governmental agencies on matters affecting student rights and welfare
including tuition.

Sec.34. Student’s Initiative and Referendum: The student
council/government through a majority vote of all its members shall
have the right to initiate the formulation, modification or reflection of
school policy affecting the students. The proposition for the
formulation, modification or reflection of a school policy affecting the
students shall be submitted to and approved by a majority of the votes
cast by all the bona fide students of the school in the referendum
called for the purpose.

Sec.35. Right to File an Appeal: The student council or government
through a majority vote of all its members shall have the right to file
an appeal on a decision of any policy-making body subordinate to the
governing board. Such appeal shall be filed with the governing board.

The student council or government with the same requisite number of
votes referred to in the previous paragraph may file a motion for
reconsideration on any decision of the governing board.

In case of any decision unfavorable to the students, the student
council may file an appeal with the Department of Education, the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the
Commission on Higher Education, insofar as the secondary, post-
secondary technical-vocational and tertiary students respectively
concerned,

All appeals and motions for reconsideration referred to in the previous
Paragraph must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days from the date
of notice of decision.

Sec.36. School fees and other Tariffs:

a. All involuntary contributions shall be prohibited.

b. In releasing documents, academic records, and similar
certifications, schools are prohibited from imposing fees beyond the
actual cost of reproducing the documents.


c. It is hereby created a set of guidelines schools with proposed
increases in tuition and all other fees must follow:

1. The schoo! shall effectively inform the students, parents,
teachers and non-teaching personnel of the proposed tuition
and other fee increase and the place and date of the
consultation at least 30 days before the consultation proper.

. All tuition consultations shall be made before February 28;

3. The school shall make easily available at least 30 days before
the consultation all pertinent documents inctuding , but not
limited to, financial reports including a comprehensive report
of the incrementa! proceeds of the preceding year's increase,
administrative reports and the school’s position paper for the
perusal of students, parents, faculty, and non-teaching
personnel;

4. The school shall allow gatherings and activities of students,
parents, faculty, and non-teaching personnei in preparation
for the consultation;

5. The school shall furnish the students,, faculty and non-
teaching personnel copies of the suggested flow and agenda
of tuition and other fees consultation which the concerned
parties may amend to include proposals not timited to review,
refund and scrapping of existing fees;

6. The facilitating body of the consultation shall be composed of
one (1} representative from the school, students, parents,
faculty and non-teaching personnel;

7. The consultation shall be open to all concerned students,
parents, faculty and non-teaching personnel;

8. The school publication shall be allowed to cover and report
the consultation proceedings;

9. The school, students, parents, faculty and non teaching
personnel shall agree on the rate of tuition increase based on
a consensus;

i0. In the event that no consensus is made, the previous rate
of tuition and other fees shall apply (arbiter? Who will finally
decide? Given that the interest of the schools and the
students are diametrically opposed, refer to HB 5618 for an
alternative process in consultation)

N

VIII. Due Process and Disciplinary Proceedings

Sec.37. Right to Due Process: The right to due process of students
subjected to disciplinary proceedings shalt be observed and respected.

a. He shall have the right to defend himself, to be heard and to
present evidence on his behalf before an impartial body.


. There shall be an independent Student Disciplinary Board to be
composed of one (1) representative from the school administration,
two (2) faculty members, two (2) students to conduct investigation
into and decide on cases of student violations of disciplinary
standards. For the purpose of impartiality, members of the SDB
shall be chosen from the list of nominees submitted by the student
council or government from its ranks, the same process will apply
for both the schoo! administration and the faculty.

. The blacklisting, expulsion, suspension and other disciplinary
sanction that may be taken against a student shall not be valid
unless the following rights have been observed and accorded a
student:

1. The right to be informed in writing of the nature and cause of
accusation against him/her;

2. The right to confront witnesses against him/her and fuli access
to the evidence in the case.

3. The right to defend himself/herself and to be defended by a
representative or counsel of his /her choice, adequate time being
given to him for the preparation of his/her defense.

4. The right to a hearing before the Student Disciptinary Board.

5. The right against self-incrimination; and the right to appeal
adverse decisions of the Disciplinary Board to the governing
board and ultimately to appropriate agencies of the government.

|. The decision in any disciplinary proceeding must be rendered on the
basis of relevant and substantial evidence presented at the hearing,
or at least contained in the record and disclosed to the student
affected.

The deciding body must act on its own independent consideration of
the facts of the case. The body, shall, in all controversial questions
render its decision in such a manner that the issue involved and the
reason for any decision are made clear to the student.

. Disciplinary actions shail be corrective rather than punitive or penal

in nature. The gravity of disciplinary sanctions must be
proportionate to the seriousness of the violation committed.
No preventive suspension shall be imposed upon a student by
reason on the exercise of his constitutional rights; provided, that in
the cases where preventive suspension may be imposed, the same
shall not be beyond 5 days.

. The Office of the Guidance Counselor or any office dealing with
student discipline of the respective schools shall publish on a
periodic basis acts which are deemed violative of school rules and
regulations and the corresponding disciplinary sanctions. Provided,
that such rules and regulations do not violate the rights guaranteed
here and under the Constitution.


h. In cases where the school administration decides to file any case in
court, criminal or civil, against a student, it may do so only after
the Student Disciplinary Board or Tribunal has determined that the
student concerned has committed the same; Provided, however,
should the student found guilty therefore by the Student
Disciplinary Board or Tribunal decide to appeal the decision thereof
to the governing board of the school, DepEd, CHED, or TESDA, the
school administration cannot file the criminal or civil case based on
the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies.

IX. Other Rights

Sec. 38. Right Against Illegal Searches and Seizures: Any form of
unlawful and unreasonable search and seizures shail be illegal, Articles
seized in violation of the herein above right shail be inadmissible in
evidence against the student in disciplinary action that may be brought
against him/her.

Sec.39. Right of Entry: In case of violations of “No ID, No Entry” or
uniform policies, the student concerned shalt not be denied entry
provided that he/she sufficiently provides proof that he/she is a bona fide
student of the school.

Sec.40. Access to School Records and Issuance of Official
Certificates: Subject to the provision of the following section, every
student shall have access to his/her own school records, the
confidentiality of which the school shall maintain. He/she shalt have the
right to be issued official certificates , diplomas, transcript of records,
grades, transfer credentials and other similar documents within thirty
(30) days from the filing of request and accomplishment of all pertinent
requirements.

Sec.41. Unpaid Tuition Fees and Examinations: Student with
delinquent fees shall have the right to take an examination. No student
shall be prohibited from taking a periodic or final examination because of
unpaid tuition and other school fees. Nevertheless, such students shal! be
subject to the right of the school concerned to withhold the release or
issuance of their school clearance prior to the end of the academic year.

Sec.42. Guarantee of Demilitarized School Campuses: Except in
cases of national or local emergencies, such as war, natural calamities or
if the prevailing situation so requires, military detachments may not be
installed or maintained in a campus. Military elements and /or policemen
in uniform or in piain clothes and school security forces shalt not interfere
with student activities, particularly peaceful mass actions, inside the
school campus.


x Final Provisions

Sec.43. Rules and Regulations: The DepEd, TESDA, CHED, and the
FemMission, aneluman, Rights (CHR). together with the representatives of
representatives of school administration and the National Youth
Commission (NYC) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
to implement the provisions of this act within ninety(90) days from its

approval.

Sec.44. Administration and Enforcement: The Department of
Education shat! create a multi-sectoral body composed of representatives
from this Department, the school’s administration and the student body to
monitor the different school campuses to ensure that the student rights
are protected. When there is a finding of the school’s willful and
repetitious infringement of student’s right, the body shall recommend to
the proper agency of the DepEd measures appropriate to the situation
including, when necessary, the suspension or cancellation of its license or
permit to operate the school,

National student organizations, student councils, government or any
concerned student and/or person shall have the right to report to and
demand an investigation from the appropriate education agency into act
or acts committed by school authorities and/or administrations violative of
their rights as provided for in this Act.

Sec. 45. Separability Clause: If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid, the remainder thereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in
full force and effect.

Sec. 46. Repealing Clause: All Laws, decrees, order, rules and
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 47. Effectivity: This Act shall take effect fiteen(15) days following
its publication in at least two(2) newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted,