FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1144 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that "The State recognizes 
the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, 
moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth 
patriotism, nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
Consistent with the desired objectives of this constitutional provision, this Magna 
Carta for students is being proposed as a means of recognizing and protecting the 
rights and welfare of the Philippine Stud entry. 
The enactment of the proposed measure will have far reaching significance 
considering that the future leaders of this nation will definitely come from the ranks of 
dynamic, progressive and nationalistic students. 


J' 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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.~ :':"PcECElVED BY: 
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Senate Bill No. 1144 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA OF STUDENTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
General Principles. - The State recognizes the crucial role of 
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students in nation building. As such, 
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(a) The State shall promote the active participation of students in affecting 
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change, and development in society. 
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(b) The State shall promote and protect the right of all students to qualify 
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education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such 
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education accessible to aiL 
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(c) The intrinsic value of the student as a person stands above other values. 
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The personal right and dignity of individuals shall be held inviolate; it shall 
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take precedence over any academic goal set by any school or learning 
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institution. 
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(d) The student shall be considered at all times a responsible person. He or she 
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shall, therefore be encouraged to make informed decisions with respect to his 
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or her own education and to be involved in school decisions to the fullest 
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extent possible. 
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(e) The State recognizes the role of student councils, publications and other 
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. organizations in the promotion and protection of the students' democratic 
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rights and welfare and in. the inculcation of social awareness and 
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responsibility. 
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(f) Both the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn depend upon 
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opportunities and conditions in the classrooms, on the campus and in the 
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la'rger community. 
The responsibility to provide and maintain general 
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conditions conducive to learning is shared by all members to the academic 
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. community. 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
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(a) "Student" means any person enrolled in school, even if on leave for the 
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semester or with minimum course load, pursuing secondary, post secondary, 
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vocational, technical, tertiary, graduate and post graduate studies. 
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(b) "Student" means any private, public or government run and funded academic 
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institutions offering any or all courses in the above mentioned levels, and 
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collectively those responsible for its control and operations; 
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(c) "School Campus" means the totality of all contiguous or proximate buildings, 
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grounds or other facilities designated by the school authorities as areas or 
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facilities for the use of its students; a school may consists of more than one 
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campus; 
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(d) "Governing Board" means the highest policy making body of the school such 
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as the Board of Directors, Trustees or Regents; 
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(e) "Student Council/Government" means the body representing the whole 
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student population in one campus whose officers are annually elected at 
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large by the whole student population pursuant to its constitution and by 
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laws; 
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(f) "Council of Leaders" means the body composed of the heads of various 
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student organizations chaired by the PresidenUChairperson of the Student 
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Council; 
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(g) "Student PUblications" means publications managed and published by 
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students and autonomous and independent from sectors of the school; 
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(h) "Students Organizations" means an association or group of students bonded 
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by common ideals, principles, visions and interests and working towards 
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achieving their goals and aspirations; 
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(i) "Instructor" means any person hired by the school to conduct classroom 
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activities; 
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0) "Tuition" means the fee representing direct costs of instruction, training and 
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academically related activities, and the use of school facilities. 
The term 
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"other school fees" refers to fees which cover the necessary costs directly 
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supportive of instruction, such as medical and dental, athletic, library, 
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laboratory, student council fees, publication fees, and Citizen Army Training 
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(CAT) or Citizen Military Training (CMT) fees. 
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SECTION 3. Freedom of Access to Education. - Under no circumstances shall 
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a student be denied admission to any school and of financial aid, scholarship and other 
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educational privileges and opportunities because of physical disability, socio-economic 
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status, political belief and affiliation, national origin, ancestry, race, religion sex, sexual 
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orientation, marital or parental status, and to the extent specified by law, age, or veteran 
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status; nor shall pregnant students, reformed convicts and drug abusers and those 
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suffering from the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome be discriminated against. 
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Students not allowed to enroll in any school has the right to appeal such ruling to the 
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appropriate education agency. 
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Students are free to pursue their educational goals; appropriate opportunities for 
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learning in the classroom and on the campus shall be provided by the school. 
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SECTION 4. Right to Organize and Freedom of Association. - Students are free 
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to form, join or participate in any group or organization within or outside of the school 
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campus for any lawful purpose including, but not limited to religious, social, economic, 
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political, intellectual, cultural or recreational purposes. 
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There shalf be a central student council/government in every school that is 
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autonomous ad with annually popularly elected officers. The Committee on Elections 
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constituted to conduct the election of the officers shall be composed solely of bona fide 
, 
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students of the school. Every student council/government shall determine its policies 
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and programs on student activities subject to its duly ratified charter and state policy. 
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M9mbership or affiliation to any legitimate student, community, socio-civic, 
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religious, political and other lawfully constituted organizations shall not be a condition to 
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admission in any school. 
No student shall likewise be coerced not to join any 
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organization as a condition for admission or as a ground for suspension or expulsion. 
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Affiliation of disaffiliation with an extramural organization shall not disqualify the 
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school- based branch or chapter from registering as a student organization. 
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No unreasonable requirements for accreditation shall be imposed upon any 
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student organization. The Central Student Council/Government shall decide on the 
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accreditation of student organizations in conSUltation with the Dean of Student Affairs. 
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Upon submission of their constitution and by laws and a formal letter addressed to the 
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Central StUdent Council/Government and for recognition shall be immediately 
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processes and acted upon in ten (10) days but not more than twenty (20) days. 
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Provided, That existing organizations shall only be required to submit the names of their 
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newly elected officers and amendments to their constitution and by-laws, if any. 
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SECTION 5. 
Freedom of Expression. -
Freedom of expression shall be 
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interpreted to include all forms of written and oral expression, and all forms or dramatic 
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and artistic expression, dissent or controversy. 
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(a) Students shall have access to print and broadcast media in their information 
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activities; 
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(b) Students shall be free from censorship in the publication and dissemination 
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of their view as long as these are not represented as the views of the school; 
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(c) Student publications shall be free from any action controlling editorial policy 
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in accordance with Republic Act No. 7079 otherwise known as the "Campus 
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Journalism Act" and its amendments. Its editors, managers and contributors 
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shall be protected from arbitrary sanctions originating from the outside the 
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stUdent press. 
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(d) Subject to existing laws, students shall be free to assemble, to demonstrate, 
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to protest, to communicate and to petition the government and school 
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authorities for the redress of their grievances; 
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(e) School authorities shall designate a certain area on every campus a freedom 
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park where students can freely discuss issues directly and indirectly affecting 
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them. 
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SECTION 6. Academic Rights. - Students' rights shall include but not limited to 
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the following: 
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(a) A student has the right to choose a field of study and to pursue his course up 
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to graduation. 
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(b) A student has the right to be informed in reasonable detail in writing at the 
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first or a second class meeting with the assigned instructor about 
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nature/content of the course and to expect the course to correspond 
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generally to its official description. 
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(c) A student has the right to be informed writing at the first or a second class 
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meeting with the assigned the criteria to be used in evaluating the student's 
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performance and to expect that the grading system described by the school 
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shall be followed; 
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(d) A student has the right to legitimate discussions inside and outside the 
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classroom and to express dissent or advocate alternative views and opinions 
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without being penalized. 
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(e) A student has the right to receive a grade based only upon a fair and just 
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evaluation of performance in a course as measured by the standards 
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announced by the instructor at the first or second meeting. The student will 
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be evaluated on knowledge and academic performance for purpose and 
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granting academic credit and not on the basis of personal and political 
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beliefs. 
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(f) A student has the freedom to conduct academic researches and to freely 
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discuss and publish his/her findings and recommendations. 
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(g) Students may invite and hear speakers of their choice on subjects of their 
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.choice, and the school for the purpose of censorship shall not withhold 
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approval. 
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(h) Students have the right to make a written evaluation of the performance of 
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their teachers towards the end of the school term, to propose improvements 
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in the quality of instruction and in the screening of incoming faculty 
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members, as well as to participate in curriculum development. 
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SECTION 7. Right to Adequate Academic Facilities. -
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(a) Students have the right to adequate academic facilities such as library, 
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research, laboratory and information technology equipment; sports and 
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fitness, recreation and other basic facilities. 
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(b) Students have the right to live in safe, descent accommodation with 
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reasonable rent whether provided by the school, or the private sector. 
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Letters and communications received by the school on behalf of the student 
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shall be delivered promptly upon notification. 
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(c) School authorities shall endeavor to provide free annual check-up to 
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students and an on-campus infirmary clinic. They shall also be responsible 
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that a campus is rendered adequate for students with inability and other 
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disabilities. 
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(d) No school shall charge the students with excessive fees in the use or 
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availing such facilities or services. Every school shall provide the students 
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with clear guidelines of any additional costs which may be incurred while 
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studying before they enter a school. These shall be rigorously monitored by 
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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 
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facilities free from discrimination and subject only to regulations as to time 
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'and manner of governing the facility 
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SECTION 8. 
Right to Student Employment. - The school shall encourage 
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opportunities for student summer and part-time employment. It shall develop career 
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counseling and guidance in order to enhance student capability to join the workforce 
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during and after his school years. 
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The Student Council shall support job and career development efforts creating 
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among its student's organization and "Student Job Center" specifically for this purpose. 
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Government agencies such as DOLE, DTI, DSWD, NYC, PSC, POC, shall 
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likewise provide support by giving students priority placement, following the out-of-
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school youth in availing of summer employment in government and public works. 
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Every student, working for a period not to exceed the minimum wage and other 
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benefits provided by the labor code has the right to minimum wage if they are in the 
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employment. 
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Students have the right to protection in the workplace through health and safety 
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conditions that are cognizant of their age and physical development. 
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SECTION g. 
Right to Consultation, Information and Participation in Policy 
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Making. - Students have the right to be informed and consulted in the formation of 
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school and calculation politics. No rule, regulation or policy that directly or indirectly 
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affect the students rights and welfare, including tuition fee increase, shall be 
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implemented without prior consultations and information. 
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There shall be a student representative in the Governing Board of the school. 
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The Chairman/President of the Student Councilor any designated representative 
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chosen by the heads of various local college student council shall be the representative. 
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Student shall be represented in other policy-making bodies, which directly affect 
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their welfare especially in curriculum review, student discipline and academic 
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standards. The student council shall designate the representatives. 
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The student council/govemment through a majority vote of all its members shall 
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have the to file an appeal on any decision of any policy making body subordinate to the 
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Goveming Board. Such appeal shall be filed with the Governing Board. 
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, 
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The Student Council/Government with the same requisite number of votes 
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referred to in the previous paragraph may file a motion for reconsideration of any 
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decision' of the Governing Board. 
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In 
case 
of any decision 
unfavorable to 
the 
students, 
the. Student 
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Council/~Iovernment may file an appeal with the Department of Education (DEPED), the 
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Technicsil Education and Skills Development (TESDA), and the Commission on Higher 
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Education (CHED), as the case may be. 
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All appeals and motions for reconsideration referred to in the previous 
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paragraphs must be within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of notice of decision. 
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SECTION 10. Creation of Student Ethics Committee. - Recognizing the values 
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of student responsibility and self-regulation, as well as its own capacity to discipline in 
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the aspect of students ethics, the school management shall refer to the Students Ethics 
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Committee. 
Such committee shall be created for this purpose by the student 
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government in consultation with the "Student Affairs Office." 
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All questions pertaining to plagiarism, falsification, copying, cheating and other 
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forms of unethical student conduct shall be referred to the Students Ethics Committee 
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which may be recommended appropriate disciplinary action to the Student Disciplinary 
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Board. 
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SECTION 11. Due Process in Disciplinary Proceedings. - No student shall be 
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suspendl3d or summarily dismissed without proof or hearing. Witnesses may be called 
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in the student's defense. 
Witnesses should be identified and reference should be 
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made to the school rule or regulation violated and the possible severity of such charges. 
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There shall be a Student Disciplinary Board in every school which shall hear and 
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decide on disciplinary proceedings. It shall be composed of two (2) student members, 
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two (2) faculty members and one (1) representative from the school administration. 
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The Student Council shall endorse the student and faculty members. 
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The ,student has the right to appeal adverse decisions by the Student Disciplinary 
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Board to the Governing Board and ultimately to the appropriate education agencies. 
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The Student Disciplinary Board, in coordination with the Dean of Student Affairs 
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shall publish and post on a periodic basis acts which are deemed violative of school 
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rules and regulations and the corresponding disciplinary sanctions. Provide that such 
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rules and regulations do not violate the students' rights herein and under the 
26 
Constitution. Provided, further, That the disciplinary sanctions shall be corrective rather 
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than punitive. 
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SECTION 12. Right to Protection and Privacy of Official EdUcational Records -
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A student has the right to inspect and to be issued his/her official records. 
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The student has the right to request the school to amend his or her records and, 
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if that request is denied, the student has the right to a hearing to challenge the content 
34 
of the students official education records, to insure that the records are not inaccurate, 
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misleading or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights to students. If the 
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school declines to amend the record following the hearing, the student has the right to 
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submit a statement for inclusion in the education record commenting on the information 
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in the record and the schools decision not to amend it. Provided the right to a hearing 
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does not include any right on the part of the student to challenge the appropriateness of 
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the grad€! as determined by an instructor. 
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Student's records shall not be released to persons other than the authorized 
43 
school authorities without permissions of the student or through compliance with 
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applicabl13 laws. 
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Information about a student's views, beliefs and political associations acquired in 
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the course of instruction, advising and counseling is confidential and shall not be 
48 
disclosed to others unless by written consent of the student. 
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The school shall not act in derogation of the rights of students to be secure in 
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their possessions. 
Students shall be secure against invasion of privacy and 
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unreasonable search and seizure. Except for the following instances, no search and 
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seizure of a student shall be deemed valid: 
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(a) searches made to a point of ingress by authorized personnel of the school; 
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(b) searches and seizures of illegal article or articles falling in the plain view of 
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duly authorized personnel; 
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(c) searches and seizures of article that are illegal, discovered inadvertently by 
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duly authorized personnel; 
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(d) searches made when the student is about to commit, is committing or has 
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committed a crime or a serious infraction of the school's rules and regulation 
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(e) searches made with a valid search warrant 
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Students shall have the right to study or practice without undue restriction or 
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disruption. 
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The privacy of communication and correspondence among students shall remain 
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inviolablE!. 
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SECTION 13. Final Provisions. - Within ninety (90) days, the DEPED, TESDA, 
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and CHED, in consultation with the students and all concerned groups shall promulgate 
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the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
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Any person who shall willfully interfere with, restrain or coerce any student in the 
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exercise of his or her right guaranteed by this Act, or who shall upon conviction, be 
19 
punished by a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) nor more than 
20 
Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year 
21 
not more than five (5) years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the 
22 
Court. If the offender is an educational institution, a juridical person, the penalty shall 
23 
be imposed upon the President, Treasurer, Secretary or any person or officer 
24 
responsible for the violation. If the offender is an alien, he shall, after the service of 
25 
sentence, be deported immediately without further proceeding in the Bureau of 
26 
Immigration and Deportation (BID). If the offender is a public officer or employee, the 
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Court shall, in audition to the penalties herein above provided, order his dismissal from 
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the government service. 
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In this regard, the DEPED, the CHED, and the TESDA shall be empowered to 
31 
investigate into the violations of this Act or the rules and regulations issued thereunder 
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and for this purpose shall have the power to issue summons, writs, orders, subpoena 
33 
and subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of witnesses and the presented to 
34 
the appropriate body. 
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All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances or parts 
37 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act hereby repealed or modified 
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accordin!lly. 
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This Act shall take effect one month after its publication in any newspapers of 
41 
general circulation 
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Approved, 
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