Nursing grads hit bureaucracy for school’s non-accreditation
The first batch of nursing graduates of St. Therese College in Iloilo City could not take the Nurse Licensure Examination in December 2010 after the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) rejected their applications due to non-accreditation of their school.
This came out after the students sought the help of the City Council through Councilor Plaridel Nava in compelling the school, the Commission on Higher Education, (CHED) and the PRC to allow them to take the board examination.
Nava said he is happy with the City Council support by allowing him to investigate the status of the nursing graduates’ applications.
In the SP session last Wednesday, Nava said he will schedule a dialogue with the school and CHED officials to determine what aspect should be clarified to hasten the release of accreditation and registration of the school.
The councilor said it appears there was already an application for accreditation by the school more than two years ago, however, it still has to comply with certain requirements.
Nava also said St. Therese was able to get a “Special Order to Operate” a nursing school and for the students to practice at St. Therese Hospital, also owned by Mrs. Teresa Sebastian Sarabia, owner of the school.
Nava said the school administration must have sincerity in dealing with their students to avoid similar situation in the future. The school must also push through with its commitment for an accreditation by compelling the CHED and PRC to act immediately, he added.
The students said it would mean additional financial burden for their parents if they have to postpone taking the board exam.
They said they have already undergone a nursing exam review conducted by a center partly owned by the school.*PNA
