An Act Protecting the Right of Students Enrolled in Courses Requiring Professional Licensing Examinations to Enroll in Review Centers of Their Choice and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof

Case Overview and Summary

Protection of Students' Right to Enroll in Review Centers Act of 2013

Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Promote and protect the right to education
- Ensure protection of students against abuses by Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) related to the right to choose review centers

Coverage (Section 3):
- All public and private HEIs offering courses requiring professional licensure examinations

Unlawful Acts by HEIs (Section 4):
- Compelling students to take review classes in a review center of the HEI's choice (Section 4.1)
- Making such review classes a prerequisite for graduation or course completion (Section 4.2)
- Forcing students to enroll in a review center of the school's choice, and pay fees including transportation and board and lodging (Section 4.3)
- Withholding student's documents to compel attendance in a review center of the HEI's choice (Section 4.4)

Penalties (Section 5):
- HEI officials or employees found guilty shall suffer prision correccional (imprisonment from 6 months and 1 day to 6 years) and a fine of Seven hundred fifty thousand pesos (P750,000.00)
- Suspension from office and revocation of professional license
- CHED may impose disciplinary sanctions pursuant to Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7722

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 6):
- CHED shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within 30 days after the law takes effect

Separability Clause (Section 7)
Repealing Clause (Section 8)
Effectivity Clause (Section 9):
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation