No nursing exam retake, PRC head tells House
No nursing exam retake, PRC head tells House
The Philippine Star 08/31/2006
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608310418.htm
Good news for the more than 17,000 passers of the June 2006 nursing licensure examinations: there will be no retake of the tests, which were tainted by the alleged leakage of exam questions.
Chairwoman Leonor Tripon Rosero of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) told the House civil service committee chaired by Pampanga Rep. Francis Nepomuceno that they are against redoing the examinations.
President Arroyo said the other day that only the PRC will make the decision on the nursing examination leakage controversy.
According to Rosero, what they did was to disregard 90 of the 100 questions in psychiatric nursing where the manuscript of a member of the board of examiners was leaked or stolen.
She said that as a result of such a decision, the number of board passers will increase from 17,322 to 17,821.
"We think the decision is fair to all examinees, especially those who made it," added Rosero, who is President Arroyo’s dentist.
Dr. Milagros Ibe, a PRC consultant, said the commission decided to "downgrade" the test on psychiatric nursing "because we could not identify who benefited from the leakage and who did not."
He said it would be unfair to the passers who made it on their own if the PRC ordered a retake.
She said downgrading was the best option available to the commission, though she agreed with some committee members that such a decision in effect penalized those who passed the examinations without the aid of a leaked or stolen test manuscript.
She added that they believe that the competence of board passers has not been compromised.
At least two members of the Nepomuceno committee batted for a retake of the licensure tests.
"A retake will save the honor of our nurses," said Makati Rep. Agapito Aquino.
He said unless the PRC orders the examinations to be given again, nurses who took the June tests will always be under a cloud of doubt.
"We are even willing to give you funds to redo this," he added.
On Tuesday night, upon the motion of Aquino, the House allotted P14 million to the PRC just in case it decides to scrap the results of the June examinations and conduct them again.
Another committee member, Rep. Anna York Bondoc, who is a medical doctor, said a downgrade would not correct the anomaly of a leakage.
"A leak is a leak, and a downgrading won’t plug or correct it," she said.
Dante Ang, Mrs. Arroyo’s former principal image builder who now chairs the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, also supported the call for a retake.
"For goodness sake, let’s stop all this debate and uphold the honor of the nursing profession. A retake may be the only correct and honorable way to redeem the profession," he said.
In the course of the hearing, the civil service committee found out that there have been situations where PRC officials and members of the board of examiners violated the rule prohibiting conflict of interest.
Two members of the nursing board traveled to Switzerland with the president of the Philippine Nursing Association, who also runs a nursing school and a review center. Another board member has written a book on nursing that is being sold in nursing schools and review centers.
Commenting on calls for the entire PRC leadership to quit, Rosero said she and her colleagues won’t resign.
She claimed that they are not involved in the anomaly and that they are qualified for their posts.
While they appeared before the House civil service committee, PRC officials snubbed a Senate inquiry on the nursing examination irregularity yesterday afternoon. For partial retake
Advocates said yesterday a partial retake of the June 2006 nursing licensure examinations will protect the reputation of those who passed and that of the entire nursing industry.
Dr. Fely Marilyn Lorenzo, executive director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Health Policies and Development Studies, said they are pushing for the retake of Test 3 and 5 so passers could get a "clean slate" as they embark on their nursing career.
"We hope they don’t think that we don’t understand them," she said.
"We sympathize with them. We are doing this for all Filipino nurses, especially for them. It is hard to start your (passers) career with a threat over your head, that you are not competent."
"So we are actually doing this so that you can start with a clean slate," Lorenzo said.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608310418.htm
Malacañang, on the other hand, said there should only be a selective retake of the nursing exams to cover only passers who "possibly" benefitted from the reported leakage of test questions.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said this was his interpretation of President Arroyo’s policy statement that only those guilty must be punished and the innocent spared.
A retake of the examinations was also recommended by the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, which was tasked by President Arroyo to convince the United States to put up a National Council Licensure Examination site in the Philippines.
However, officials and members of the Philippine Nurses Association are divided on the issue.
Lorenzo said they were "not fabricating" when they said that countries hiring Filipino nurses are doubtful of the integrity of those who passed the June 2006 nursing examinations in view of the alleged leakage.
They have been closely monitoring the global nursing industry, and there is rising concern over the June licensure test, she added.
Lorenzo said the alleged leakage has only compounded the "deteriorating quality of Filipino nurses" brought about by the mushrooming of substandard nursing schools.
"In fact, I was told by the World Health Organization that the United Kingdom, United States and Australia were complaining about the deteriorating quality of our nurses," she said.
Lorenzo said Filipino nursing communities abroad are also concerned over the present situation of the nursing profession, and that they are willing to provide financial assistance to the passers who cannot afford a retake. These include the PNA United States and PNA Australia, she added.
Lorenzo said Pampanga Rep. Ana York Bondoc had also assured them that the House of Representatives was allocating a supplemental budget for a retake of the June 2006 nursing examinations.
If the passers would not be made to retake the leaked parts of the licensure test, their competence as nurses would always be in doubt, she added.
Meanwhile, the R. A. Gapuz Review Center said yesterday despite threats of blacklisting and constant repudiation from some sectors of society, their officials remain firm in their statement that they were not involved in the alleged leakage in the June 11 and 12 nursing licensure examinations.
"With rumors circulating that the leakage was caused by the intense rivalry of the review centers, R.A. Gapuz Review Center claims that they have just been unduly dragged into the issue, and that there is no truth to the rumors that the review center will be closing down," the review center said in a statement.
This is the first time in 10 years of service that Gapuz was charged for any examination irregularities, the statement added.
The officials said R.A. Gapuz has a market share of 40 percent, making it one of the top five most populated review centers.
For foreign nursing examination reviews, R.A. Gapuz shares 49 percent of the market, making it one of the top three market players, the statement added.
The officials said the impact of the malicious imputations hurled against them without any factual basis can malign not only the Gapuz’s nursing board examinees whose credibility threatens to be smeared.
"Aside from being the first and only review center in the Philippines manned by an internationally recognized nursing expert, RAGRC consistently maintains a 98 percent passing rate for hopeful graduates and has produced 82 board topnotchers since 1994," the statement said.
"RAGRC is set to continue providing excellent service to all hopeful nursing examinees as it imparts credible, legitimate and proficient review system in the country."
The officials said that on Sept. 6, RAGRC is set to receive the prestigious SUPERBRANDS seal, an international recognition awarded to the best brand around the world.
RAGRC is the only review center in Asia to receive the award, the statement added.
The other day, CHED chairman Carlito Puno told The STAR they plan to close down review centers with no nursing schools.
This is part of the plan to regulate nursing review centers, as ordered by President Arroyo, he added.
One of the review centers they intend to close down is the R.A. Gapuz Review Center, which has no nursing school, Puno said.— Jess Diaz, Sheila Crisostomo, Aurea Calica, Sandy Araneta
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608310418.htm
The Philippine Star 08/31/2006
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608310418.htm
Good news for the more than 17,000 passers of the June 2006 nursing licensure examinations: there will be no retake of the tests, which were tainted by the alleged leakage of exam questions.
Chairwoman Leonor Tripon Rosero of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) told the House civil service committee chaired by Pampanga Rep. Francis Nepomuceno that they are against redoing the examinations.
President Arroyo said the other day that only the PRC will make the decision on the nursing examination leakage controversy.
According to Rosero, what they did was to disregard 90 of the 100 questions in psychiatric nursing where the manuscript of a member of the board of examiners was leaked or stolen.
She said that as a result of such a decision, the number of board passers will increase from 17,322 to 17,821.
"We think the decision is fair to all examinees, especially those who made it," added Rosero, who is President Arroyo’s dentist.
Dr. Milagros Ibe, a PRC consultant, said the commission decided to "downgrade" the test on psychiatric nursing "because we could not identify who benefited from the leakage and who did not."
He said it would be unfair to the passers who made it on their own if the PRC ordered a retake.
She said downgrading was the best option available to the commission, though she agreed with some committee members that such a decision in effect penalized those who passed the examinations without the aid of a leaked or stolen test manuscript.
She added that they believe that the competence of board passers has not been compromised.
At least two members of the Nepomuceno committee batted for a retake of the licensure tests.
"A retake will save the honor of our nurses," said Makati Rep. Agapito Aquino.
He said unless the PRC orders the examinations to be given again, nurses who took the June tests will always be under a cloud of doubt.
"We are even willing to give you funds to redo this," he added.
On Tuesday night, upon the motion of Aquino, the House allotted P14 million to the PRC just in case it decides to scrap the results of the June examinations and conduct them again.
Another committee member, Rep. Anna York Bondoc, who is a medical doctor, said a downgrade would not correct the anomaly of a leakage.
"A leak is a leak, and a downgrading won’t plug or correct it," she said.
Dante Ang, Mrs. Arroyo’s former principal image builder who now chairs the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, also supported the call for a retake.
"For goodness sake, let’s stop all this debate and uphold the honor of the nursing profession. A retake may be the only correct and honorable way to redeem the profession," he said.
In the course of the hearing, the civil service committee found out that there have been situations where PRC officials and members of the board of examiners violated the rule prohibiting conflict of interest.
Two members of the nursing board traveled to Switzerland with the president of the Philippine Nursing Association, who also runs a nursing school and a review center. Another board member has written a book on nursing that is being sold in nursing schools and review centers.
Commenting on calls for the entire PRC leadership to quit, Rosero said she and her colleagues won’t resign.
She claimed that they are not involved in the anomaly and that they are qualified for their posts.
While they appeared before the House civil service committee, PRC officials snubbed a Senate inquiry on the nursing examination irregularity yesterday afternoon. For partial retake
Advocates said yesterday a partial retake of the June 2006 nursing licensure examinations will protect the reputation of those who passed and that of the entire nursing industry.
Dr. Fely Marilyn Lorenzo, executive director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Health Policies and Development Studies, said they are pushing for the retake of Test 3 and 5 so passers could get a "clean slate" as they embark on their nursing career.
"We hope they don’t think that we don’t understand them," she said.
"We sympathize with them. We are doing this for all Filipino nurses, especially for them. It is hard to start your (passers) career with a threat over your head, that you are not competent."
"So we are actually doing this so that you can start with a clean slate," Lorenzo said.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608310418.htm
Malacañang, on the other hand, said there should only be a selective retake of the nursing exams to cover only passers who "possibly" benefitted from the reported leakage of test questions.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said this was his interpretation of President Arroyo’s policy statement that only those guilty must be punished and the innocent spared.
A retake of the examinations was also recommended by the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, which was tasked by President Arroyo to convince the United States to put up a National Council Licensure Examination site in the Philippines.
However, officials and members of the Philippine Nurses Association are divided on the issue.
Lorenzo said they were "not fabricating" when they said that countries hiring Filipino nurses are doubtful of the integrity of those who passed the June 2006 nursing examinations in view of the alleged leakage.
They have been closely monitoring the global nursing industry, and there is rising concern over the June licensure test, she added.
Lorenzo said the alleged leakage has only compounded the "deteriorating quality of Filipino nurses" brought about by the mushrooming of substandard nursing schools.
"In fact, I was told by the World Health Organization that the United Kingdom, United States and Australia were complaining about the deteriorating quality of our nurses," she said.
Lorenzo said Filipino nursing communities abroad are also concerned over the present situation of the nursing profession, and that they are willing to provide financial assistance to the passers who cannot afford a retake. These include the PNA United States and PNA Australia, she added.
Lorenzo said Pampanga Rep. Ana York Bondoc had also assured them that the House of Representatives was allocating a supplemental budget for a retake of the June 2006 nursing examinations.
If the passers would not be made to retake the leaked parts of the licensure test, their competence as nurses would always be in doubt, she added.
Meanwhile, the R. A. Gapuz Review Center said yesterday despite threats of blacklisting and constant repudiation from some sectors of society, their officials remain firm in their statement that they were not involved in the alleged leakage in the June 11 and 12 nursing licensure examinations.
"With rumors circulating that the leakage was caused by the intense rivalry of the review centers, R.A. Gapuz Review Center claims that they have just been unduly dragged into the issue, and that there is no truth to the rumors that the review center will be closing down," the review center said in a statement.
This is the first time in 10 years of service that Gapuz was charged for any examination irregularities, the statement added.
The officials said R.A. Gapuz has a market share of 40 percent, making it one of the top five most populated review centers.
For foreign nursing examination reviews, R.A. Gapuz shares 49 percent of the market, making it one of the top three market players, the statement added.
The officials said the impact of the malicious imputations hurled against them without any factual basis can malign not only the Gapuz’s nursing board examinees whose credibility threatens to be smeared.
"Aside from being the first and only review center in the Philippines manned by an internationally recognized nursing expert, RAGRC consistently maintains a 98 percent passing rate for hopeful graduates and has produced 82 board topnotchers since 1994," the statement said.
"RAGRC is set to continue providing excellent service to all hopeful nursing examinees as it imparts credible, legitimate and proficient review system in the country."
The officials said that on Sept. 6, RAGRC is set to receive the prestigious SUPERBRANDS seal, an international recognition awarded to the best brand around the world.
RAGRC is the only review center in Asia to receive the award, the statement added.
The other day, CHED chairman Carlito Puno told The STAR they plan to close down review centers with no nursing schools.
This is part of the plan to regulate nursing review centers, as ordered by President Arroyo, he added.
One of the review centers they intend to close down is the R.A. Gapuz Review Center, which has no nursing school, Puno said.— Jess Diaz, Sheila Crisostomo, Aurea Calica, Sandy Araneta
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608310418.htm
I BEG TO DISAGREE TO OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THEIR STATEMENTS THAT THE HONOR OF THE NURSING PROFESSION HAS BEEN TARNISHED. IF THAT IS SO, IT IS BECAUSE OF THEM--BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT ARE UNCALLED FOR.
ONLY THE MOST NAIVE WILL THINK THAT THERE WERE NO CHEATING IN PRIOR YEARS. WHICH MEANS, THAT AMONG PRIOR YEARS' PASSERS ARE THOSE WHO PASSED BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. DESPITE THAT REAL PROBABILITY, WE DID NOT ENCOUNTER MALPRACTICE SUITS AGAINST THEM--BECAUSE PASSING THE EXAM IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN ACTUAL PRACTICE, WHERE YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR BOOKS.
NOW, IN THE CASE OF 2006 EXAM, THERE WAS CHEATING, ALL RIGHT, BUT, UNLIKE IN PRIOR YEARS, IT WAS DISCOVERED, AND SO THE CHEATING WAS STARTED BUT NOT CONSUMMATED!!!
REPEAT, THE CHEATING WAS NOT CONSUMMATED--BECAUSE IT WAS DISCOVERED AND ITS EFFECT WAS EXCLUDED IN THE COMPUTATION OF GRADES--SO WHAT DAMAGE TO THE HONOR OF THE PROFESSION ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? THE 2006 PASSERS ARE CLEAN, WHY CAN'T THEY SEE THAT? THE SON OF MR. CORDERO FAILED BECAUSE EVEN IF HE HAD LEAKAGE, IT WAS NULLIFIED, SO HE WAS REALLY TESTED ON THE 390 QUESTIONS, AND THE RESULT SHOWED THAT NOT EVEN HE WAS ABLE TO CHEAT ON THE 390 QUESTIONS.
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:29 AM
OF COURSE IT’S TRUE THAT WE ARE TAINTED YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE LORENZO EMAILED EVERY NURSING RECRUITER IN USA JUST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT HIRED. THATS ONLY THE BEGINNING, TOMORROW SHE WILL EMAIL EUROPE, ASIA AND EVEN AFRICA JUST TO MAKE SURE, MIND YOU, THAT SHE DIDN’T MISS ANY RECRUITMENT AGENCY. DEAN LORENZO YOU SUCK! WHY DON’T YOU CREATE YOUR OWN WEBSITE ATTACKING JUNE 2006 BOARD PASSERS 24/7 SO WE CAN COMMENT DIRECTLY THERE.
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:53 AM
WHY DID IT TAKE THE GOVERNMENT/PRC THIS LONG TO MAKE A DECISION? LOL!
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:59 AM
HOY UP DEAN...MAHIYA KA SA BALAT MO...D KA NA NAAWA SA MGA PASSERS NG SCHOOL MO EH 100% PA NAMAN KAYO...SINISIRA MO MGA BUHAY NILA AT LAHAT NG MGA PASSERS..SA HALIP NA TULUNGAN NYO..KUNG DUDA KAYO SA MGA PUMASA GANON DIN TINGIN NYO SA MGA PASSERS NYO? ANO KAYA FEELING NG MGA PASSERS NYO SA MGA GINAGAWA NYO?STUPID!!!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:14 AM
Kadalasan sa mga advocate ng retake exam ay mga bagsak at matatabang isda na hindi nagugutom ang kanilang pamilya na matataas ang "ire" lalo na iyong mga politician na gustong lumulutang ang pangalan para sa darating na election, at least libre na sila sa sa media propagation...
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:33 AM
Anong pinagsasabi ninyong mga "Honor, Integrity" etc. etc...puro kayo dadal eh wala na nga kaming makain tapos honor pa kayo ng honor!!!
Saan ba nagsimula ang lahat??? di ba sa matataas na tungkulin??? at sino naman ang nag-iingay??? di ba mga nasa matataas na pulitiko rin??? Sino naman ang nakikinabang di ba mga nasa Media rin??? dito sila kumikita sa issue na pinalaki ng Media at politiko at ng mga nasa matataas na tungkulin??? Ano ang kasalanan ng mga studyante dito, maliban sa binigyan sila ng leakage kung meron man...Kahit sinong studyante I'm sure they will grab all opportunity pumasa lang at natural lang ito kahit na santo pa siya lalo na iyong mga politician tuwing election... mga mapagkunwari!!!!!! mga putik!!!!!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:54 AM
Anong pinagsasabi ninyong mga "Honor, Integrity" etc. etc...puro kayo dadal eh wala na nga kaming makain tapos honor pa kayo ng honor!!!
Saan ba nagsimula ang lahat??? di ba sa matataas na tungkulin??? at sino naman ang nag-iingay??? di ba mga nasa matataas na pulitiko rin??? Sino naman ang nakikinabang di ba mga nasa Media rin??? dito sila kumikita sa issue na pinalaki ng Media at politiko at ng mga nasa matataas na tungkulin??? Ano ang kasalanan ng mga studyante dito, maliban sa binigyan sila ng leakage kung meron man...Kahit sinong studyante I'm sure they will grab all opportunity pumasa lang at natural lang ito kahit na santo pa siya lalo na iyong mga politician tuwing election... mga mapagkunwari!!!!!! mga putik!!!!!!
7:54 AM
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:00 AM
Mr. Ang Dante Ang, Remulla atbp. na mga politician at doon sa mga retake advocate..."PAUTANGIN MUNA NINYO KAMI NG PERA HABANG NAKABITIN PA ANG TRO" Wala na kaming panggastos at lalo lang napapasama ang aming kabuhayan dahil mas gusto ninyo na integrity para sa ibang bansa, kesa integrity namin na nasisira na dahil sa inyong kangangawa!!!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:10 AM
Mr. Ang Dante Ang, Remulla atbp. na mga politician at doon sa mga retake advocate..."PAUTANGIN MUNA NINYO KAMI NG PERA HABANG NAKABITIN PA ANG TRO" Wala na kaming panggastos at lalo lang napapasama ang aming kabuhayan dahil mas gusto ninyo na integrity para sa ibang bansa, kesa integrity namin na nasisira na dahil sa inyong kangangawa!!!!
8:10 AM
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:14 AM