Lawmakers cite Phl’s top criminology schools

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on higher and technical education has cited the country’s top criminology schools, based on the strong finish of their graduates in the last two eligibility examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, chairman of the panel, listed the top criminology schools as University of the Cordilleras with a passing rate of 99.42 percent in the licensure tests; Ifugao State University (95 percent); Lipa City Colleges (94.83 percent); University of Baguio (92.56 percent); Universidad de Manila (88.39 percent); Angeles University Foundation (87.69 percent); Carlos Hilado State College of Fisheries-Binalbagan (82.81 percent); University of La Salette-Santiago (80.50 percent); and PLT College Inc.-Bayombong (80.92 percent).

The lawmaker said criminology is the third most heavily subscribed program in college, after nursing and teaching, wherein graduates must first pass a national licensure examination before they can practice their profession.

“We hope this list will help consumers – prospective criminology students and their parents – decide for themselves as to where they will likely receive greater value for their tuition money,” Romulo said.

PRC and Commission on Higher Education records show the country has a total of 416 schools authorized to produce would-be professional criminologists.

Citing PRC statistics, he said the nine top-performing schools were the only institutions “with 50 or more examinees and with at least 80 percent of their examinees passing” the last two criminologist licensure examinations.

There may be smaller schools with at least 80 percent of their examinees passing the last two criminologist eligibility tests, but he said these institutions were excluded because they had fewer than 50 examinees.

He said some 44.21 percent, or 16,918 out of 38,263 examinees, passed the last two criminologist licensure examinations in April and October 2013.

Criminology refers to the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, control, and prevention of criminal behavior in individuals and societies.

The criminal justice system, including law enforcement agencies, the prosecution service, the courts, as well as correctional and rehabilitation facilities, together with providers of private security services, are among the biggest recruiters of criminologists, he said.