DECS ORDER NO. 78

: The policy of the State is to provide free public secondary education to all qualified citizens and to promote quality education at all levels.
: The right of any student to avail of free public high school shall terminate if the student fails for two consecutive school years in the majority of the academic subjects enrolled during the course of study unless such failure is due to some valid cause.
: Academic subjects refer to all subjects prescribed for a particular curriculum year.
: Failure in five or more subject areas per curriculum year for two consecutive school years constitutes the basis for forfeiture of the right to free public secondary education.
: Valid cause means circumstances for failures that are beyond the student's control, such as illness, family instability, or environmental disturbances, and must be duly certified by authorities concerned.
: School principals or administrators are responsible for informing parents and students of the policy at least thirty days after the opening of every school year.
: It was adopted on August 3, 1992.
: The implementation was desired to start during the school year 1993-1994.
: It cites Section 6 of Republic Act No. 6655 as the legal basis for the limitation.
: Examples include illness, family instability, or environmental disturbances, provided these are certified by the appropriate authorities.