CHED-NCR sets the record straight

Dear Mr. Belmonte:

I am writing to express my concern over the article of Mr. Rainier Allan Ronda in the Jan. 30, 2008 issue of The Philippine STAR titled “CHED scored over 9 schools with ‘colorum’ courses.” The article contains inaccurate information especially on the alleged “colorum” courses offered by the schools named in the article. In the interest of fair reporting and considering the right of the public to know the facts and circumstances surrounding this issue. I wish to put the record straight as the Regional Director of CHED-NCR.

Based on existing procedure of CHED, issuance of phase-out order for programs of higher education institutions (HEIs) with poor performance in PRC licensure examinations is the responsibility of the Central Office through the Executive Director. The role of the Regional Office is to transmit such phase-out order to the concerned HEIs and then monitor compliance to the said order.

In June 2005, Executive Director William Medrano gave Jose Rizal University (JRU), Manuel L. Quezon University, National College of Business and Arts-Cubao, and Santa Isabel College, permission to accept first year students for baccalaureate programs in Accountancy for school year 2005-2006. Said permission has not been revoked by the Executive Director, and hence the continued offering of the Accountancy programs by the said schools is not “colorum” as claimed by the author of the article. Trinity University of Asia did not receive any order whatsoever from the Executive Director’s office. AMA Computer College-San Juan, closed its school operation last September 2007.

It is therefore not correct to say that the CHED-NCR has failed to do the job of closing the said accountancy programs since the concerned schools were given permission to continue offering them.

Mr. Ronda’s statement on the failure of the CHED-NCR to close 19 nursing schools reportedly without a single graduate passing in the PRC licensure examination from 2001 to 2005, is grossly inaccurate. No phase-out order has yet been issued by the Commission. Besides, the 19 nursing schools alleged to be poor performing are not located in NCR.

We hope the Philippine STAR will continue providing accurate and objective information to the public. — AMELIA A. BIGLETE, Director IV, Commission on Higher Education-National Capital Region, Pasig City