AN official of an association of private schools believes a Senate bill that penalizes private institutions for enforcing a 'no permit, no exam' policy infringes on a school's academic rights.

'We have been very lenient over the years, but what we don't like about the bill is that it takes away our academic freedom, our ability to manage our schools and manage our relationships with our students,' Dr. Antonio del Carmen, a board member of the Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (Papscu), the Unified Technical Vocational Education and Training of the Philippines Inc. (Unitvet) and Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (Cocopea), said in a recorded video interview with The Manila Times.