PB asks: Let MCC students take exam

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board is asking the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to allow the 2011 graduates of the Mandaue City College under the supervision of Dr. Paulus Maria Cañete to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers.

The resolution was sponsored by Board Member Thadeo Ouano who was mayor of Mandaue City when the college was established in 2004.

In the middle of the discussion in yesterday’s PB session, Cañete arrived but was not able to participate in the discussion, as he was not invited to appear.

Ouano initially failed to indicate which graduates of the school are covered by the request, prompting Board Member Joven Mondigo, Jr. to move that the Board specify the specific graduates.

On July 24, 2011, graduates of MCC-Tipolo campus headed by Cañete were reportedly informed that they could no longer take the licensure examination because the college does not have any proof of recognition from CHED.

“The Provincial Board of Cebu is concerned with the plight of these graduates, who came from the financially disadvantaged sectors of society is now appealing to the CHED to allow them to take the Licensure Examination,” the resolution states.

Ouano said they made the appeal for “humanitarian reasons” to give the graduates the chance to fulfill their long awaited dreams of becoming a professional teacher and eventually uplift their standard of living.

The said city college has over a thousand students, employing at least 30 teachers.

Ouano said that through the years, the college was able to nurture and develop eager young minds that never had the opportunity to study in private educational institutions due to financial impediments.

Sometime in 2007, the administration of Mayor Jonas Cortes created and operated another MCC at the Mandaue City Sports Complex headed by Dr. Susana Cabahug.

The matter of the legality of these two community colleges was put to question in a case still pending for the last three years.

Ouano pointed out that despite pending case, through the years the graduates of both colleges have been accorded legal recognition by the Professional Regulations Commission by allowing them to take the national licensing examinations.  (FREEMAN)