Mock board exams used as basis hundreds of criminology studes may not graduate

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — A group of BS Criminology graduating students of the University of Iloilo's Phinma's College of Criminal Justice have protested against the school's imposition of the mock board exams as basis for their graduation.

The group represented the 314 graduating students who might not be able to march during UI's commencement exercises on March 26, Saturday.

They held a vigil yesterday at the Commission on Higher Education-Region 6 office at Jaro district in this city, as they vowed to fight the legality of the mock board exams implemented by the university.

The students sought an audience with regional officials of the CHED-6 seeking for their intervention in the university's decision not to allow the graduation of students who failed the mock board examination.

The mock board exam was given to graduating fourth year criminology students, as a pre-examination for those who want to take the Criminology board examination of the Professional Regulations Commission.

If a student could not pass the mock board exam, they did not only lose their chance to take the board exam, they could not also graduate from the course.

The group spokesperson, who requested anonimity, said the mock board examination has no CHED approval.

"It's not in our curriculum. If the school indeed proposed a memorandum and if it was approved by CHED, it could not be imposed on us graduating students," he said, contending that it should be implemented among incoming freshmen.

The group claimed they agreed to take the examination and even had a review. Their exams were held last March 12 and 13, but when the results were released on March 16, all of them failed.

Last year, they argued that a mock board examination was also done but when the students failed, they were still allowed to graduate. Not this time though, and this is what they are protesting.

All graduating Criminology students who went to CHED yesterday said that they have informed their parents they were graduating.

"A number of us already prepared feasts in celebration of the graduation. We just hope that it will be resolved before March 26," their spokesman said, otherwise they would raise the issue to authorities who could decide on their fate favorably.

The other day, UI-Phinma declared it will stand by its decision not to let the students graduate. University president Dr. Chito Salazar explained that the mock exam served as the students' final exam, thus, failing it would also means failing the final exam.

Salazar however said UI is giving three opportunities to these students: First, the failing grades they got will not be credited and they would just be given an incomplete grade; second, they could take the mock exam again; and third, if they again failed, they could review or study for the next mock board exam for free.

After all, "UI cares," said Salazar adding that UI prepares students for a career and not just diplomas. (FREEMAN)