FRUSTRATED. Caesar Amistad, Mindanao Medical Foundation College (MMFC) nursing graduate, scores the questionable procedures of his school over the release of their records. Amistad joined the public inquiry initiated by Davao City Councilor Leah Librado-Yap. But no representative from the MMFC showed up. (davaotoday.com photo by Paul Anthony N. Crooks)
The nursing graduates complained they were not immediately informed on the results of the assessment exam conducted after their graduation. They were also not allowed to see their examination papers and even grades. Should they fail or pass on the assessment exam, they were told that the school will just inform them via short message service (text message). And if they fail, they would be advised not to take the NLE and take the next scheduled assessment exam.
By PAUL ANTHONY N. CROOKS
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – For failing to pass a test prior to the board exams, nursing graduates were banned from getting their school records and taking the much-anticipated board exams this June.
In its defense, the city’s premier medical school, Mindanao Medical Foundation College claimed the students signed an agreement that would prohibit them from taking the exams if they failed the assessment test.
Sitting as chairperson of the city council’s committee on education which heard the case last week, lawyer and 1st district city councilor Leah Librado-Yap commented that “(T)he content of the agreement only states that students who failed the assessment would be advised not to take the National Licensure Examinations (NLE). It did not, however, state that the student’s records or credentials will be withheld.”
Students said their school has no clear policy on the assessment exam, adding such is not even part of their course syllabus. In their student handbook, only a mock board is required for them to comprehensively cover the entire aspects of their course.
Wendell Love Gimbas, one of the nursing graduates who failed the test, said she was able to secure the records through dogged persistence. Her batchmates were not as lucky. “Why can’t the administration do the same for the rest? I do not see any reason for them to hold our credentials,” she said.
The nursing graduates complained they were not immediately informed on the results of the assessment exam conducted after their graduation. They were also not allowed to see their examination papers and even grades. Should they fail or pass on the assessment exam, they were told that the school will just inform them via short message service (text message). And if they fail, they would be advised not to take the NLE and take the next scheduled assessment exam.
The medical school failed to send a representative to settle the matter during the city council’s committee hearing April 26.
“We are very dismayed. We have been expecting that our concerns will be addressed before the deadline of our application in the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) next month. Nevertheless, we will continue to demand from the (MMFC) administration that they release our credentials and stop giving us false hopes,” Gimbas said.
Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Director Edward Aquino said the assessment is an “institutional initiative” where the conduct is left to the school’s discretion.
He said they’ve been receiving the same complaints against the school for several years already. “This is not the first time,” he said.
Kathleen Doromal-Cadayona, Service Contractor of the regional PRC, who happens to be an alumni of the school, claimed she experienced the same.
Both the PRC and Ched admitted that the school is having problems with its management and school policies.
“We no longer have any obligations towards our school; it cannot deprive us of what is due to us,” Caesar John Amistad, also a graduate, said, adding he felt deprived of his rights as a student.
Librado-Yap hopes the school will attend the next public consultation to clarify to their students all the concerns raised. “We cannot tolerate such violations of students’ rights and despite their repeated assurance that they will release the credentials, this remains to be seen,” Librado-Yap said. (Paul Anthony N. Crooks/davaotoday.com)
