CHED warns 5 nursing schools over low rating
Five nursing schools in Western Visayas are on the brink of losing their “recognized status” if they will continue to perform below par in the upcoming board exam.
By below par, Engr. Rex Casiple, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) VI assistance regional director, explained that the five schools got an overall rating lower than the national passing percentage of 39.73% in the recent nursing board examination.
Casiple revealed that they would send “warning” letters to Filamer Christian College in Roxas City (35.41%); Saint Gabriel College in Kalibo, Aklan (32.36%); University of Iloilo in Iloilo City (29.62%); West Negros University in Bacolod City (27.20%); and College of St. John in Roxas City (25.21).
“For school year 2009-2010, we averaged the performances of the nursing schools in the last three years. If it’s below the national passing percentage, we send them a warning. So, by 2011-2012, if they still rate below the national passing percentage for first takers, we would strip them of their recognized status,” Casiple said.
CHED will then downgrade these schools to permit status.
“Permit status is temporary. Like if they are given permit for schools year 2009-1020, after their permit expires, they would have to apply again,” Casiple added.
Unlike the permit status, if a school received CHED recognition it has no expiry. Thus, they need not apply annually.
“The downgrading will be done so that we could closely supervise them,” he added.
Casiple stated that schools could not renew their permit unless they show that they could perform better or have complied with the CHED requirements.
Also, under Commission En Banc Resolution No. 378 Series of 2009, if a school has zero passing percentage in the last five years, the course would have to be automatically phased out.
Earlier, CHED closed down 15 nursing schools in the country but none was based in Western Visayas.
Good performance
Generally, WV nursing schools performed well in the recent board examination, said Casiple.
Fact is, two of the nursing schools – West Visayas State University (33-99 examinees) and St. Paul University Iloilo (100 or more examinees) posted a 100% passing percentage.
Of the 8,047 examinees, Casiple said that the region had a 50% passing rate or produced 4,028 passers – 60% for first takers and 24% for retakers.
“We were pulled downed by retakers. If not for retakers, we would have posted a better performance,” he added.
There are 21 nursing schools in Western Visayas and additional three schools, which have yet to produce their first batch of graduates.
