QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 10609)
RA 10609 is known as the “Protection of Students’ Right to Enroll in Review Centers Act of 2013.”
To promote and protect the constitutional right to education and to ensure protection of students against possible abuses by higher educational institutions (HEIs) regarding students’ right to choose their review centers.
All public and private HEIs, including local colleges and universities, offering courses that require professional licensure examinations.
Compelling students to take review classes not part of the curriculum, in a review center of the HEI’s choice.
When review classes (not part of the curriculum) are made a prerequisite for graduation or completion of the course.
Forcing students to enroll in a review center of the school’s choice and requiring payment of fees that include transportation and board/lodging.
Withholding a student’s transcript, diploma, certification, or other essential documents needed for the professional licensure exam application to compel attendance in the HEI’s chosen review center.
Any HEI official or employee, including deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating Section 4.
Prision correccional, i.e., imprisonment from six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years, and a fine of P750,000, plus suspension from office and revocation of professional license.
CHED may impose disciplinary sanctions against the HEI official or employee pursuant to Section 13 of RA 7722.
Fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the rest of the Act remains valid.
All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders/memoranda, and rules/regulations inconsistent with RA 10609 are amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.
No, the law targets review classes “not part of the curriculum” that are used to compel students’ enrollment in a review center of the HEI’s choice. If truly part of the curriculum, it is not within the specific unlawful acts described in Section 4.
No. The law protects the student’s freedom to choose; it prohibits compulsion or coercive practices by HEIs.