Nursing studes dominate 2010 graduates in W. Visayas
For school year 2009-2010, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – Region VI pegged that some 42,700 college students will march for graduation beginning late of this month until second week of April.
Quite unsurprisingly, Medical related courses, composed mostly of BS Nursing dominated the graduates of Western Visayas with the total number of 10,248.
Business Education graduates followed with 9,394 and Teacher Education with 6,405.
According to CHED assistant regional director Dr. Rex Casiple, for every 100 graduates, 24 are medical related, 22 are business education, 15 are teacher education, 10 in industrial technology, 8 in information technology, 6 maritime education, 5 engineering, 4 agriculture, 3 criminology and 3 in arts.
He cited that research conducted by the Presidential Task Force for Education showed that out of one hundred (100) Grade I pupils enrolled 14 years ago, only 21 finished college; 14 finished baccalaureate degree programs while 7 finished technical-vocational courses.
There are 79 Out of School Youths (OSY) and drop-outs, or 18 out-of-school youths and 61 drop-outs.
Meanwhile, CHED reiterated to higher education institutions in the region to hold simple graduation rites.
CHED 6 also appealed to all public and private higher education institutions, in this election period, to do away with commencement exercises comprising political colors.
“In any issues arising in the conduct of commencement exercises, favor should always be for the parents and graduating students. As much as possible the school should initiate programs that accommodate the presence of all parents, and perfect graduating class attendance,” he added.
School officials were also urged to comply the CSC MC No. 30, series of 2009, stating”Reminder to all Government Officials and Employees Holding Non-Political Offices/Positions of the Prohibition from Engaging Directly or Indirectly in Any Partisan Political Activity” which is self-explanatory; and to Sec 55 of the Administrative Code of 1987 (EO No. 292) stating that, “no officer or employee in the Civil Service including members of the Armed Forces, shall engage directly or indirectly in any partisan political activity or take part in any election except to vote nor shall he use his official authority or influence to coerce the political activity of any other person or body”.
“As much as possible we will make these commencement exercises free from politics, simple, affordable, memorable and solemn, befitting the graduates and their parents,” Casiple said.
