Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No.8935

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The type of future that awaits our youth is dependent, to a large degree, on their experience as
students. This does not just refer to what happens within the confines of the classroom, but to
what happens outside it, with their interactions with teachers and school administrators. These
are the formative years of our citizens, in both the good and the bad. While the school
environment will be the home of many wonderful memories for students, it is also where most
Filipinos first experience conflicts with authority, inequality, and systemic injustice.

One of the roles of the State is to level the playing field in situations where conflict may arise
between those unequal in power, to ensure that the rights of those more vulnerable are protected
from abuse, and this applies to students within the school system in the same way as it applies
to workers in the labor force. The enactment of a Magna Carta of rights for students, similar to
the general Bill of Rights in our Constitution, will serve to elevate and clarify the rights of
students as against authorities, as well as facilitate the learning and dissemination of these rights
by collating them in a single statute.

Our students have repeatedly shown that they are willing to fight for what they believe is right
for their nation. In this manner, with this bill —a re-filing of House Bill No. 3104 filed by
former DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Villar and a counter part of Senate Bill No.
723 filed by Senator Cynthia Villar -- we hope to also fight for what is best for the students.

PEPITO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Party-list

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 8935

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF STUDENTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Magna Carta of Students”.

SECTION 2. General Principles. - The State recognizes the crucial role of students in nation
building. As such,

(a) The State shall promote the active participation of students in effecting change and
development in society.

(b) The State shall promote and protect the right of all students to qualify education at all
levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

(c) The intrinsic value of the student as a person stands above other values. The personal
right and dignity of individuals shall be held inviolate; it shall take precedence over any
academic goal set by any school or learning institution.

(d) The student shall be considered at all times a responsible person. He or she shall
therefore be encouraged to make informed decisions with respect to his or her own
education and to be involved in school decisions to the fullest extent possible.

(e) The State recognizes the role of student councils, publications and other organizations
in the promotion and protection of the students' democratic rights and welfare and in
the inculcation of social awareness and responsibility.

() Both the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn depend upon opportunities and
conditions in the classrooms, on the campus and in the larger community. The
responsibility to provide and maintain general conditions conducive to learning is
shared by all members to the academic community.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) "Student" means any person enrolled in school, even if on leave for the semester or with

minimum course load, pursuing secondary, post secondary, vocational, technical,
tertiary, graduate and post graduate studies;

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(b) "School" means any private, public or government run and funded academic
institutions offering any or all courses in the above mentioned levels, and collectively
those responsible for its control and operations;

(c) "School Campus" means the totality of all contiguous or proximate buildings, grounds
or other facilities designated by the school authorities as areas or facilities for the use
of its students; a school may consists of more than one campus;

(@) "Governing Board” means the highest policy making body of the school such as the
Board of Directors, Trustees or Regents;

(©) "Student Council/Government" means the body representing the whole student
population in one campus whose officers are annually elected at large by the whole
student population pursuant to its constitution and bylaws;

(f) "Council of Leaders" means the body composed of the heads of various student
organizations chaired by the President/Chairperson of the Student Council;

(g) "Student Publications" means publications managed and published by students and
autonomous and independent from sectors of the school;

(h) "Students Organizations" means an association or group of students bonded by common
ideals, principles, visions and interests and working toward achieving their goals and
aspirations;

(i) "Instructor" means any person hired by the school to conduct classroom activities;

(j) "Tuition" means the fee representing direct costs of instruction, training and
academically related activities, and the use of school facilities. The term "other school
fees" refers to fees which cover the necessary costs directly supportive of instruction,
such as medical and dental, athletic, library, laboratory, student council fees,
publication fees, and Citizen Army Training (CAT) or Citizen Military Training (CMT)
fees.

SECTION 4. Freedom of Access to Education. - Under no circumstances shall a student be
denied admission to any school and of financial aid, scholarship and other educational
privileges and opportunities because of physical disability, socio-economic status, political
belief and affiliation, national origin, ancestry, race, religion sex, sexual orientation, marital or
parental status, and to the extent specified by law, age, or veteran status; nor shall pregnant
students, reformed convicts and drug abusers and those suffering from the Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome be discriminated against. Students who are not allowed to enroll in any
school have the right to appeal such ruling to the appropriate education agency.

Students are free to pursue their educational goals; appropriate opportunities for learning in the
classroom and on the campus shall be provided by the school.

SECTION 5. Right to Organize and Freedom of Association, - Students are free to form,
join or participate in any group or organization within or outside of the school campus for any
lawful purpose including, but not limited to religious, social, economic, political, intellectual,
cultural or recreational purposes.

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There shall be a central student council/government in every school that is autonomous ad with
annually popularly elected officers. The Committee on Elections constituted, to conduct the
election of the officers shall be composed solely of bona fide students of the school. Every
student council/government shall determine its policies and programs on student activities
subject to its duly ratified charter and state policy.

Membership or affiliation to any legitimate student, community, socio-civic, religious,
political, and other lawfully constituted organizations shall not be a condition to admission in
any school. No student shall likewise be coerced not to join any organization as a condition for
admission or as a ground for suspension or expulsion. Affiliation of disaffiliation with an
extramural organization shall not disqualify the school- based branch or chapter from
registering as a student organization.

No unreasonable requirements for accreditation shall be imposed upon any student
organization. The Central Student Council/Government shall decide on the accreditation of
student organizations in consultation with the Dean of Student Affairs.

Upon submission of their constitution and by-laws and a formal letter addressed to the Central
Student Council/Government and for recognition shall be immediately processes and acted
upon in ten (10) days but not more than twenty (20) days. Provided, That existing organizations
shall only be required to submit the names of their newly elected officers and amendments to
their constitution and by-laws, if any.

SECTION 6. Freedom of Expression. - Freedom of expression shall be interpreted to include
all forms of written and oral expression, and all forms or dramatic and artistic expression,
dissent or controversy.

(a) Students shall have access to print and broadcast media in their information activities;

(b) Students shall be free from censorship in the publication and dissemination of their
view as long as these are not represented as the views of the school;

(c) Student publications shall be free from any action controlling editorial policy in
accordance with Republic Act No. 7079 otherwise known as the "Campus Journalism
Act" and its amendments. Its editors, managers and contributors shall be protected
from arbitrary sanctions originating from the outside the student press.

(d) Subject to existing laws, students shall be free to assemble, to demonstrate, to protest,
to communicate and to petition the government and school authorities for the redress
of their grievances;

(e) School authorities shall designate a certain area on every campus a freedom park where
students can freely discuss issues directly and indirectly affecting them.

SECTION 7. Academic Rights. - Students’ rights shall include, but not limited to the
following:

(a) A student has the right to choose a field of study and to pursue his course up to graduation.

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(b) A student has the right to be informed in reasonable detail in writing at the first or a second
class meeting with the assigned instructor about nature/content of the course and to expect
the course to correspond generally to its official description.

(©) A student has the right to be informed writing at the first or a second class meeting with
the assigned the criteria to be used in evaluating the student's performance and to expect
that the grading system described by the school shall be followed;

(d) A student has the right to legitimate discussions inside and outside the classroom and to
express dissent or advocate alternative views and opinions without being penalized.

(©) A student has the right to receive a grade based only upon a fair and just evaluation of
performance in a course as measured by the standards announced by the instructor at the
first or second meeting. The student will be evaluated on knowledge and academic
performance for purpose and granting academic credit and not on the basis of personal and
political beliefs.

(f) A student has the freedom to conduct academic researches and to freely discuss and
publish his/her findings and recommendations.

(g) Students may invite and hear speakers of their choice on subjects of their choice, and the
school for the purpose of censorship shall not withhold approval.

(h) Students have the right to make a written evaluation of the performance of their teachers
towards the end of the school term, to propose improvement in the quality of instruction
and in the screening of incoming faculty members, as well as to participate in curriculum
development.

SECTION 8. Right to Adequate Academic Facilities. -

(a) Students have the right to adequate academic facilities, such as library, research,
laboratory and information technology equipment; sports and fitness, recreation and
other basic facilities.

(b) Students have the right to live in safe, descent accommodation with reasonable rent
whether provided by the school, or the private sector. Letters and communications
received by the school on behalf of the student shall be delivered promptly upon
notification.

(©) School authorities shall endeavor to provide free annual check-up to students and an
on-campus infirmary clinic. They shall also ensure that a campus is rendered adequate
for students with inability and other disabilities.

(@) No school shall charge the students with excessive fees in the use or availing the above-
mentioned facilities or services. Every school shall provide the students with clear
guidelines on any additional costs which may be incurred while studying before they
enter a school. These shall be rigorously monitored by the student council/government
to prevent the charging of top-up fees.

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(e) Students/student organization have the right to access or use of campus facilities free
from discrimination and subject only to regulations as to time and manner of governing
the facility

SECTION 9. Right to Student Employment. - The school shall encourage opportunities for
student summer and part-time employment. It shall develop career counseling and guidance
in order to enhance student capability to join the workforce during and after his school years.
The Student Council shall support job and career development efforts creating among its
student's organization and "Student Job Center" specifically for this purpose.

Government agencies such as DOLE, DTI, DSWD, NYC, PSC, POC, shall likewise provide
support by giving students priority placement, following the out-of-school youth in availing of
summer employment in government and public works.

Students have the right to protection in the workplace through health and safety conditions that
are cognizant of their age and physical development.

SECTION 10. Right to Consultation, Information and Participation in Policy Making. -
‘Students have the right to be informed and consulted in the formation of school and calculation
politics. No rule, regulation or policy that directly or indirectly affects the students’ rights and
welfare, including tuition fee increase, shall be implemented without prior consultations and
information.

There shall be a student representative in the Governing Board of the school. The
Chairman/President of the Student Councilor any designated representative chosen by the
heads of various local college student council shall be the representative.

Student shall be represented in other policy-making bodies, which directly affect their welfare
especially in curriculum review, student discipline and academic standards. The student council
shall designate the representatives.

The student council/government, through a majority vote of all its members, shall have the
right to file an appeal on any decision of any policy making body subordinate to the Governing
Board. Such appeal shall be filed with the Governing Board.

The Student Council/Government with the same requisite number of votes referred to in the
previous paragraph may file a motion for reconsideration of any decision’ of the Governing
Board.

In case of any decision unfavorable to the students, the. Student council/government may file
an appeal with the Department of Education (DEPED), the Technical Education and Skills
Development (TESDA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as the case may
be.

All appeals and motions for reconsideration referred to in the previous paragraphs must be
decided within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of notice of decision.
SECTION 11. Creation of Student Ethics Committee, - Recognizing the values of student

responsibility and self-regulation, as well as its own capacity to discipline in the aspect of
students ethics, the school management shall refer to the Students Ethics Committee. Such

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committee shall be created for this purpose by the student government in consultation with the
"Student Affairs Office.”

All questions pertaining to plagiarism, falsification, copying, cheating and other forms of
unethical student conduct shall be referred to the Students Ethics Committee, which may
recommend appropriate disciplinary action to the Student Disciplinary Board.

SECTION 12. Due Process in Disciplinary Proceedings. - No student shall be suspended or
summarily dismissed without proof or hearing. Witnesses may be called in the student's
defense. Witnesses should be identified and reference should be made to the school rule or
regulation violated and the possible severity of such charges.

There shall be a Student Disciplinary Board in every school which shall hear and decide on
disciplinary proceedings. It shall be composed of two (2) student members, two (2) faculty
members and one (1) representative from the school administration. The Student Council shall
endorse the student and faculty members.

The student has the right to appeal adverse decisions by the Student Disciplinary Board to the
Governing Board and ultimately to the appropriate education agencies.

The Student Disciplinary Board, in coordination with the Dean of Student Affairs, shall publish
and post on a periodic basis acts which are deemed violative of school rules and regulations
and the corresponding disciplinary sanctions. Provide that such rules and regulations do not
violate the students’ rights herein and under the Constitution. Provided, further, That the
disciplinary sanctions shall be corrective rather than punitive.

SECTION 13. Right to Protection and Privacy of Official Educational Records - A student
has the right to inspect and to be issued his/her official records.

The student has the right to request the school to amend his or her records and, if that request
is denied, the student has the right to a hearing to challenge the content of the student's official
education records, to insure that the records are not inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in
violation of the privacy or other rights to students. If the school declines to amend the record
following the hearing, the student has the right to submit a statement for inclusion in the
education record commenting on the information in the record and the schools decision not to
amend it. Provided the right to a hearing does not include any right on the part of the student
to challenge the appropriateness of the grade as determined by an instructor.

Student's records shall not be released to persons other than the authorized school authorities
without permissions of the student or through compliance with applicable laws.

Information about a student's views, belief’ and political associations acquired in the course of
instruction, advising and counseling is confidential and shall not be disclosed to others unless
by written consent of the student.

The school shall not act in derogation of the rights of students to be secure in their possessions.
Students shall be secure against invasion of privacy and unreasonable search and seizure.
Except for the following instances, no search and seizure of a student shall be deemed valid:
a) searches made to a point of ingress by authorized personnel of the school;
b) searches and seizures of illegal article or articles falling in the plain view of duly
authorized personnel;

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°)

searches and seizures of article that are illegal, discovered inadvertently duly authorized
personnel;
d) searches made when the student is about to commit, is committing or has committed a
crime or a serious infraction of the school's rules and regulation
e) searches made with a valid search warrant
‘Students shall have the right to study or practice without undue restriction or disruption.
The privacy of communication and correspondence among students shall remain inviolable.

SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days, the DEPED,
TESDA, and CHED, in consultation with the students and all concerned groups shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 15. Penalty. - Any person who shall willfully interfere with, restrain or coerce any
student in the exercise of his or her right guaranteed by this Act, or who shall upon conviction,
be punished by a fine of not less than twenty thousand pesos (P20, 000.00) nor more than one
hundred thousand pesos (P100, 000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year not
more than five (5) years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court. If
the offender is an educational institution, a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon
the President, Treasurer, Secretary or any person or officer responsible for the violation. If the
offender is an alien, he shall, after the service of sentence, be deported immediately without
further proceeding in the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID). If the offender is a
public officer or employee, the Court

In this regard, the DEPED, the CHED, and the TESDA shall be empowered to investigate into
the violations of this Act or the rules and regulations issued there under and for this purpose
shall have the power to issue summons, writs, orders, subpoena and subpoena duces fecum to
secure the attendance of witnesses and the presented to the appropriate body.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in any newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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