ILOILO City , Philippines— There has been a significant rise in the performance of nursing schools in Western Visayas, based on the results of the November 2014 Nurse Licensure Examination, according to the Commission on Higher Education-Region 6.
CHED-6 assistant regional director Rex Casiple said the notable increase in NLE performance was the result of the commission’s strict implementation, since 25th of April 2012, of the policies and standards for Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Non-compliance of schools to the order will lead to closure, through phase-out, of their nursing programs. “The Policies and Standards implementation resulted in reduction of the number of non-compliant and low performing nursing schools in the country through closure or gradual phase-out,” Casiple said.
A total of 1, 716 out of 2,449 examinees in Western Visayas, or 70 percent, passed the November 2014 NLE, Casiple said, adding that this was higher than the December 2013 passing average of 42.56 percent.
Casiple said 19 out of 24 nursing schools in the region, or 79 percent, are now high performers or performing above the national average.
Three higher education institutions from Western Visayas were even included in the top 10 high performing schools in the national level with 50 or more examinees and with at least 80 percent passing percentage.
These are St. Paul University–Iloilo, which ranked number 1 (100 percent passing), Central Philippine University at number 8 (92.91 percent passing), and University of San Agustin at number 10 (92.26 percent passing).
Other top performing nursing schools in Western Visayas, but not included in the top 10, were University of St. La Salle (90.48 percent passing) and Aklan State University (82.35 percent passing). — Montesa Griño Caoyonan (FREEMAN)