PRC urged to act swiftly on exam leak; CHED nursing education panel members resign

A group of deans of nursing schools asked the Board of Nursing (BON) of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to "inhibit (itself) in the discharge of its functions" until board members are cleared of responsibility in the controversy over leaked exam questions.

In a position paper, the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing Inc. (ADPCN) headed by Dean Carmelita Divinagracia, also asked the PRC to "act with haste on the matter."

Some examinees in the Board examination for nursing last June 11-12 complained that R.A. Gapuz Review Center in Baguio City had leaked test questions.

The examinees have filed a petition seeking the investigation of Board examinees. However, they complained that some members of the BON have allegedly tried to block the petition.

ADPCN said the PRC should file administrative and criminal charges against all those who would be held responsible.

"PRC (must) create an Independent Board of Inquiry, composed of men and women of integrity from the profession, with the assistance of other professionals (those from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines) who can assist in investigating the case," the group noted.

To protect the integrity and reputation of the Bar examination, the Supreme Court set aside examination results for a certain subject in which test questions may have been leaked and required the examinees to retake those portions.

The ADPCN said while the process is tedious, expensive and time-consuming, it is a way that could help protect the purpose and reason for the examination itself.

"In our case, we propose the same. In health care, unlike in law, there is ‘limited appeal’ when wrong decisions and actions are taken," the group said.

Meanwhile, the R.A Gapuz Review Center maintained it did not have any involvement in the alleged leaks prior to the June 11 and 12 nursing exams.

In a statement, officials said the company is ready to answer any charges that are filed and is gathering evidence to determine the sources behind the "malicious" accusation.

CHED panel members resign

In another development, dismayed members of the Commission on Higher Education Technical Committee on Nursing Education (TCNE) resigned en masse yesterday over the CHED’s failure to act on their recommendations to uphold the integrity of the nursing profession.

"We decided to resign due to serious disagreement with the CHED on different nursing education quality issues. The TCNE believes that CHED has instead buckled down to pressure from vested political and economic interests, sacrificing quality for mediocrity and business interests," they said in a statement.

In a press briefing, Dr. Marlyn Lorenzo, director of University of the Philippines’ Institute of Health Policy and Development, said the Technical Committee on Nursing Education was created to assist CHED in formulating policies that would "uphold and protect the integrity of the nursing profession and nursing education."

But there are some issues, Lorenzo noted, that convinced TCNE that CHED "lacked the will to assure the quality of nursing education."

In their resignation letter, the officials said they believe the TCNE and CHED were divided over issues of nursing education quality and felt they no longer had the support of the CHED commissioners and some regional directors in upholding the quality of Philippine Nursing Education.

The officials said they tried to voice their concerns with CHED officials but were ignored.

"Due to the foregoing, our work as technical committee members has become untenable. Differing views on how to pursue quality nursing education have affected our productive relationship with CHED. However, we will be faithful to our mission," they maintained.

The resigned members are Lorenzo, Divinagracia, president of the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing Inc.; Glenda Vargas and Sylma Sanchez, both retired chairs of the PRC’s BON; Amelia Rosales, retired director of Nursing Service of the Makati Medical Center; Remedios Fernandez, member of BON; and Ma. Rita Tamse, deputy director for Nursing Services of the Philippine General Hospital.