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Saturday, September 30, 2006

Arroyo order for retake of nursing exam stays -- Dante Ang

Arroyo order for retake of nursing exam stays -- Dante Ang
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=24042

By Juliet Labog-Javellana
Inquirer
Last updated 06:56pm (Mla time) 09/30/2006

DANTE Ang, chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, said Saturday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to require a retake of the leakage-affected portions of the June 2006 nursing licensure examination stays and would prevail despite a pending case in the Court of Appeals.

“As of this moment, the President has not changed her mind. The President's stand is for a retake of Tests III and V,'' Ang said in a phone interview.

Ang made the statement after Malacañang appeared to be backpedaling on the President's earlier order for a retake of the nursing exam.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Malacañang will not take any action on the issue until the Court of Appeals resolves petitions seeking the retake and invalidation of the oath administered by the Professional Regulation Commission on the successful examinees.

Ang said it was “within the powers of the executive to come up with its own decision” on the resolution of the nursing exam leakage controversy to restore the integrity of the nursing profession and the licensure exams in the country.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=24042

Ang also heads the Task Force on the United States National Council Licensure Examinations (NCLEX) which investigated the leakage. Ang confirmed he was one of the Cabinet officials who recommended the retake of Tests III and V during a Cabinet meeting last Tuesday.

Ang has been lobbying to make the Philippines an NCLEX examination site due to the sheer number of Filipino nurses entering the United States.

He said a retake of only the portions affected by the leakage would be enough to restore the integrity of the nursing profession and licensure exams.

“My position is if the system is flawed, anybody who comes out of it is questionable and under a cloud of doubt,” Ang said.

But Senators Richard Gordon and Rodolfo Biazon said Malacañang should await the decision of the CA.

“Out of respect to the court they should not make a decision ahead of the ruling because that would be contemptuous behavior,” said Gordon, author of the resolution which prompted the Senate civil service committee to investigate the leakage.

Gordon said his position was for the retake to be required only for students of the review centers who availed themselves of the leaked test questions in Baguio City and Metro Manila.

Biazon, head of the Senate civil service committee, criticized Malacañang for its flip-flopping, noting that the President first said there should be no retake, then said there should be a retake, and now appears to be holding it off.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=24042

Posted by Budek at 7:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

Retake to usher RP's bid to host State Board exam

Retake to usher RP's bid to host State Board exam
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
http://www.sunstar.com.ph

THINK of the benefit of the many and not of the few.

Representative Jose Carlos "Kako" Lacson (3rd District, Negros Occidental) made this appeal to all nursing board passers last June, as he stressed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's retake order of the controversial June exam was for the benefit of the many and of the entire country.

Another benefit, Lacson said, is that President Arroyo and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) are thinking of the possibility that the US Government will decide to hold the US's National College Licensure Exam (NCLEX) or State Board exam in the country instead of Hongkong.

The initial US plan will be January next year, said Lacson quoting reports from PRC Commissioner Dante Ang.

"Imagine the benefit that Filipino nurses could avail if we can redeem our national credibility, tainted by the scandalous June nursing exams, in the US market," the lawmaker said.

Lacson, currently chair of the House committee on basic education, also lamented that the more than 17,300 board passers last June will retake the exam despite their invested hardships, sacrifices, and even financial expenses.

"I can feel the burden that lies upon their parents' shoulders...the expenses.. the overnight reviews...the worries, among other anxious feelings. But let's also think of our national integrity and credibility, which is being questioned now because of the June exam brouhaha. We started losing credibility in the US market," he said.

"Some of our Filipino nurses even those who had passed the previous exams have started suffering from discrimination and doubts. I think we need to redeem this before us Filipinos, not just nurses but other professionals, will be branded cheaters or liars in the future," added Lacson.

That's why if we can sacrifice just a little bit, we need to do it now before everything will be too late for us, Lacson appealed.

As to the expenses, he said, "I think examinees won't pay for the exam anymore because Malacañang had already vowed to subsidize the testing fees except only for their review, traveling, and lodging expenses where they will be getting the test."

Based on normal and conservative estimates, a nursing examinee has to spend about P30,000 for the review, travel, food and lodging expenses in taking the exam, which are usually administered in Cebu, Iloilo, Baguio, Davao, and Manila.

The Palace has announced though that the government will fork out P52 million to subsidize the examinations.

"We will not let them pay exam fees anymore. The President ordered that we take care of the funds," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

At least 17,821 students passed the June 2006 board exams, out of 42,000 examinees.

Defer

http://www.sunstar.com.ph

Latest report from Malacañang Friday, however, said it is deferring action on a retake of the leakage-marred nursing board exams to wait for the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) on the case regarding the oath taking of those who passed the test.

Ermita said Labor Secretary Arturo Brion was reminded by the PRC of the pending case before the CA, which could bear on the decision to have the examinees retake the examinations.

Fair and square

In Bacolod City, however, the June nursing board passers from various colleges and universities held a protest rally at the public plaza Friday morning, dramatizing their vehement objection on the President's order through Executive Order 565.

"We oppose the retake because we passed the examination with clean consciences, fair and square," Jet Ong, leader of the protesters told mediamen.

He then hoped that the CA will soon lift the Temporary Restraining Order preventing all June passers to avail of themselves their licenses.

They also drafted a manifesto with specified reasons why they object EO 565 and asked Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela to bring it personally to President Arroyo in Malacañang.

In a telephone interview Friday, Coscolluela said he has to see the manifesto yet.

"I want to read it first before I make any recommendation or action but definitely, I will personally carry and give it to President Arroyo on Monday next week when I go to Malacañang for another official business," Coscolluela said, adding that he will find out if there will chance for a making any compromise on the situation."

He, though, explained that the country's integrity is at stake.

Best decision

From Malacañang, the President said, "It's the best decision for now," assuring a small group of examinees she met with in the Palace Thursday.

"There is no way to determine who did not participate in the leakage...That's why to make the burden lighter, government will subsidize the next regular exams," she added.

Bacolod Lone District Representative Monico Puentevella, who is also one of the prospects to be asked for a mediation on the issue, however, said in a text message sent to Sun.Star Bacolod Thursday night that President Arroyo had already spoken and this should be respected.

Puentevella said the best thing to hope from the President is for her to reconsider her decision in ordering for the retake of the nursing exam.

But as to the reason, he said, "The President has probably the very reason why she issued the EO 565."

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

Posted by Budek at 7:51 PM | Permalink | Comments

POSITION PAPER NO RETAKE OF THE NATIONAL LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR NURSES IN THE NORTHERN MINDANAO AREA

POSITION PAPER

NO RETAKE OF THE NATIONAL LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR NURSES IN THE NORTHERN MINDANAO AREA

Prefatory Statement

The image of the nursing profession has been greatly tarnished. More importantly, the Filipino image relative to the nursing profession in the international community has been largely ruined by the inconsiderate actions of some selfish and unscrupulous personalities in the nursing industry. And while the urgent call for reforms to restore the pristine reflection of the nursing profession cannot be gainsaid the same, and this must be highly underscored, should not be at the expense of the hundreds and thousands of innocent nursing students/examinees who invested blood, sweat and tears just to achieve their ultimate dream of becoming the next Florence Nightingale.

This position paper aims to illustrate the recklessness, irresponsibility and injustice of compelling legitimate successful passers of the June 2006 National Licensure Examinations for Nurses in the Northern Mindanao area to retake the same examinations. If at all a retake is necessary and deemed the only thing that can restore dignity to the nursing profession, then the same must not encompass the whole archipelago but only to those areas proven to be where the alleged leakage took place. Surely not everyone can be made to endure the humiliation and indignities caused by the sins of a few, much less allowed to suffer the consequent penalty.

Presentation of Issues

1. The alleged occurrence of a leakage of examination questions in the June 2006 National Licensure Examinations for Nurses did not include the Northern Mindanao
Area;
2. The propriety of the Philippine Regulatory Commission’s application of statistical treatment on the examination results of the June 2006 National Licensure Examinations for Nurses.
3. The competence of the passers of the June 2006 National Licensure Examinations for Nurses vis-à-vis the alleged occurrence of leakage of examination questions; and
4. The implementation of the Temporary Restraining Order suspending the registration and oath taking of the board passers.

Arguments and Discussion

On the issue of the alleged occurrence of a leakage of exam questions in the June 2006 National Licensure Exams for Nurses, specifically the 20 items from Test III and 90 items from Test V

Ever since the whole fiasco regarding the alleged leakage of examination questions in the June 2006 National Licensure Examinations for Nurses broke out much has been said about it. However, the evidence presented thus far, be it testimonial or documentary, only serve to confirm one thing---no leakage occurred in the Northern Mindanao area. Owners and administrators of nursing schools and review centers and even nursing students from Northern Mindanao have remote, if any, connections to the members of the BON. It would thus be simply improbable, if not totally impossible, for any nursing student in the Northern Mindanao area who took the exams in the regional testing center in Cagayan de Oro City to have been involved in and/or benefited from any leakage of examination questions.

The fact of the matter is that there has been no evidence, real or imaginary, supporting the
occurrence of any leakage of examination questions in the Northern Mindanao regional testing center in Cagayan de Oro City. Further, no nursing school, nursing college dean, or nursing review center in the Northern Mindanao area has been linked to the alleged leakage of examination questions. These reasons support the belief that no examinee in the Northern Mindanao area could have possibly been privy to any leakage of examination questions much less benefited from them. Besides, granting without necessarily admitting there was any leakage of examination questions in the June 2006 National Licensure Examinations for Nursing this was not widespread enough to include the Northern Mindanao area. There is thus no need for examinees in the Northern Mindanao area to retake the said examinations.

On the issue of the PRC’s statistical treatment of the exam results

The Board of Nursing, in its Board Resolution No. 31 dated 17 July 2006, determined that due to a leakage of examination questions in the June 2006 National Licensure Examinations for Nurses, specifically twenty (20) items from Test III (Medical-Surgical Nursing) and ninety (90) items from Test V (Psychiatric Nursing), undue advantage was afforded to those who were privy to the leaked questions.

In this regard, they resolved that to invalidate twenty (20) leaked items in Test III, and to re-compute the remaining eighty (80) items were sufficient to neutralize the undue advantage given to some by virtue of the leakage, and that the remaining eighty (80) valid items were sufficient to determine the competency of the examinees with regard to the areas of nursing covered by Test III.

And to minimize the effect of the leakage anent Test V, the BON, acting upon the advice of Test and Statistics expert Dr. Milagros Ibe, applied statistical treatment to the said Test V. The application of statistical treatment to tone down the effects of the leakage of questions in Test V was arrived at considering that ninety (90) out of one hundred (100) questions were leaked and the invalidation of the said ninety (90) items would result in only ten (10) valid questions which consequently would be insufficient to prove the competency of the examinees in the areas covered by Test V.

The application of statistical treatment was duly approved and applied by the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC), the independent body entrusted by the Philippine government to prepare, administer, evaluate, interpret and publish the results of competency examinations for Professionals.

It may be well to stress at
this point that in the same Board Resolution, the BON established that the performance of the regional examination sites did not show remarkable significance in Test V proving only that the alleged leakage was not as widespread as to demand a retake of the examination for those in the Northern Mindanao area.

On the issue of competence, and on whether or not the passers of the June 2006 Licensure Exams pose a threat to public health and safety in the practice of the nursing profession

In the nursing profession competence is measured by the successful completion of academic and clinical requirements as well as passing the National Licensure Examinations for Nurses.
It is an indisputable fact that all the examinees of the recently concluded National Licensure Examinations for Nurses have completed, to the satisfaction of their
respective Nursing Schools, the Board of Nursing and the Philippine Regulatory Commission, all academic as well as clinical experience requirements as set forth in the Nursing Act of 2002. As such they have the necessary knowledge, as evidenced by their Transcript of Records and Diploma, and the necessary basic nursing skills as evidenced by their authenticated Related Learning Experience records as well as the completion of required number of cases for OR and DR.

Moreover, the examinees from Northern Mindanao successfully passed the Licensure Examinations on their own merit and without the benefit of any leakage. The statistical treatment applied on the examination results by the PRC simply proves the competence of examinees from Northern Mindanao as they passed the exams in spite of the undue advantage enjoyed by those who benefited from the leakage, and despite the statistical treatment applied on their test scores by
the PRC, which may have effectively eroded their scores. Otherwise stated, these examinees have nothing more to prove.

Surely, the successful examinees of the Northern Mindanao area will not pose a threat to public health and safety in the practice of the nursing profession for they have been duly evaluated (in school and in the licensure examinations) and passed. In other words, they have taken on the challenge and have not been found wanting.

On the issue of the implementation of the Temporary Restraining Order suspending the registration and oath taking of the board passers

Under Article 4, Sec. 16 and 17 of RA 9173 all successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take oath of profession before the Board of Nursing or any government official authorized and a certificate of registration/professional
license as a nurse shall be issued to an applicant who passes the examination upon payment of the prescribed fees.

The suspension of the registration and oath taking of the board passers resulting from the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order has caused heightened anxiety and distress to both board passers and their respective families. The perception is that their basic rights as mandated under RA 9173 are being denied and their future put in abeyance.
Inasmuch as the board passers want to move forward and practice their chosen profession none of them can do so.

Conclusion

The Board of Nursing and Philippine Regulatory Commission, which are the true and legally recognized institutions responsible for determining the competency of any candidate for licensing as Registered Nurses,
have taken swift and decisive action to undo the harm done by the leakage of examination questions. Through this, the PRC has ensured the competence of those listed as having successfully passed the Licensure Exams.

It must be categorically stated that there was absolutely NO leakage of examination questions in the Northern Mindanao region, and any insinuations to the contrary is utterly baseless and untrue. Moreover, any malicious imputation as to the integrity of the examinations held in the Cagayan de Oro City testing center is, at best, misleading. The National Licensure Examinations for Nurses, as held in Cagayan de Oro City, was legitimate and untainted by any leakage.

That the successful examinees possess the basic competencies to practice the nursing profession is beyond question. They have the necessary knowledge, as proven by their academic achievements as
well as their having passed the licensure exams (on their own merit and without the advantages enjoyed by those who were privy to the leaked exam items) and they have the necessary attitude as well as the basic skills necessary to effectively practice the noble profession they have chosen.

Therefore, to subject them to a retake of the examinations would be the height of injustice as it would be like penalizing them for successfully hurdling this milestone armed with nothing but sheer hard work, industry and a clean conscience instead of hailing them and heaping praises on them for a job well done. Surely, these successful examinees have every right to be called “registered nurses” and to be allowed to practice their profession as such.

Let us not begrudge them their dream---legitimately attained and richly deserved.

SENT VIA EMAIL

Posted by Budek at 7:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

MALACANANG ORDER ON RETAKE IS NOT ONLY CONTEMPT OF COURT OF APPEALS—IT CAN ALSO BE SUBVERSION OF COURT !!!

For: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT and OTHERS CONCERNED

From: A CONCERNED CITIZEN (not Rondy Jose) Doing Business with

the Government Who Does not Want to Court Blacklisting….

MALACANANG ORDER ON RETAKE IS NOT ONLY CONTEMPT

OF COURT OF APPEALS—IT CAN ALSO BE SUBVERSION OF COURT !!!

The situation is simple enough. An alter ego of the President, Dr. Dante Ang with Cabinet-member rank, ran to the Court of Appeals to oppose the 17,000 nursing exam passers. In so doing, in behalf of the Executive Branch, he surrendered to the Court or Judicial Branch the disposition of the nursing scandal. Neither he nor the President whom he represents can decide on the matter thereafter. Doing so would render them in contempt of Court, so all he and the entire Executive Branch can do is wait.

But lo and behold, Dr. Dante Ang, engineered a coup in Malacanang by having the President approve RETAKE in a Cabinet meeting. Unlike in the Court of Appeals where the contending parties are given the chance to speak and be heard under due process of law, in the cabinet meeting only government officials were present—there were no passers or their representatives to rebut what Dr. Dante Ang said. Worst of all, nobody among the legal eagles in the Cabinet reminded the President on a timely basis about the RETAKE order being an out-and-out contempt of Court. In short, the Malacanang decision-making process was fatally FLAWED. (Now we know how decisions are made in Malacanang!)

So now Malacanang seems between the devil and the deep blue sea—or in a wonderful DILEMMA--courtesy of Dr. Dante Ang:

First, they announced a decision to retake and thereafter immediately ate their words because doing so with a case very much pending in the Court of Appeals will be blatant CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Second, if the Court decides on RETAKE, that is the only time they can do it—but why decide and announce a retake in the first place if this is the case? Instead of finding a convenient scapegoat in the Court of Appeals , Malacanang commited a glaring blunder or PROPAGANDA FAUX PAS that put the blame and the ire of 17,000 passers and their families and their sympathizers directly at them!

Third, and worse, if the Court decides on NO RETAKE , Malacanang CANNOT order a RETAKE even if it has already prematurely announced and decided to do so—doing that will not only be CONTEMPT of Court, it will be SUBVERSION of Court , he, he, he!!!

SENT VIA EMAIL

Posted by Budek at 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments

Nurse exam retake frozen

Nurse exam retake frozen
By GENALYN D. KABILING

The planned mandatory retake of the June nursing licensure examinations has been put on hold until the Court of Appeals (CA) issues a final decision concerning the cheating scandal, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the scope of the re-examinations would depend on the forthcoming CA ruling on a petition seeking to invalidate the scandal-tainted 2006 nursing board exams.

“We can't make the final action up to extent of the retake and who should retake because we will see how the Court of Appeals’ decision will bear upon such a decision,” Ermita said in an interview with reporters in the Palace.

In explaining the latest government decision, Ermita said the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) had reminded the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) about the pending case in the CA seeking the invalidation and retaking of two leaked subjects in the June tests. The two agencies were earlier ordered by President Arroyo to work out the details of the retake of the nursing board exams, including whether this would be full or partial.

Ermita acknowledged that the government must abide by the judicial process before a retake of the nursing board exams is conducted. “Going by the rule of law, we have to consider that there is such a case in the CA, which could very well bear on the decision on the level of retake,” he said.

The suspension of the mandatory retake came a day after President Arroyo announced that only Tests 3 and 5 of the 2006 nursing test would be covered in the retake of all nursing board examinees before December. The two tests on Medical/Surgical Nursing and Neuro-Psychiatric Nursing were suspected to be plagued with leakages as many review centers obtained copies of test questions a few days before the scheduled exam.

The President had said the retake of the nursing board exams was the “best decision at the moment” to repair the damage done to the reputation and integrity of the Filipino nurses as well as the professional board exams.

In a petition before the CA, the faculty members the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) College of Nursing and several groups of nurses have sought a retake of the examination as they questioned the actions taken by the PRC to cleanse the examination of leaked test questions. Pending its decision on the petition, the appellate court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping the August 22 oath-taking of new nurses.

Ermita, meantime, said the President would not back down on her decision for a retake despite protests from some sectors of the medical profession. “We have to consider the integrity of the profession because it will affect other professions domestically and abroad.

Those are the strong ones that bore on the decision of the President to order the retake,” he said.

In Cebu, hundreds of nursing students, nursing licensure exam passers, their parents and representatives of the various medical schools in Cebu City trooped to the Fuente Osmeña oval yesterday morning to air their strong opposition to the proposed retake of the examination.

The board passers also urged President Arroyo to exempt the Cebu passers from retaking the nursing licensure board examination considering that the alleged leakage was found to have been contained in the Luzon area.

Mae Plaza, one of the top-notchers of the recent board exam for nurses, said she will not consider retaking the exam even if the government will shoulder all the expenses that will be incurred.

“Taking the exam is unex-plainably stressful and draining. The government should not make us pay for a crime that we didn’t commit,” said Plaza, whose stand echoes the voices of more than 300 nurses that gathered at the Fuente Osmeña oval yesterday morning. (With a report from Mars Mosqueda)

Source:

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=27539

Posted by Anonymous at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments

Palace blinks on retake of nursing exam, awaits CA ruling

Palace blinks on retake of nursing exam, awaits CA ruling
By Paolo Romero
The Philippine Star 09/30/2006

http://philstar.com/philstar/News200609300404.htm

Malacañang is temporarily putting on hold the implementation of President Arroyo’s order for a retake of the June nursing licensure examinations pending the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) on the tests, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said yesterday.

However, Ermita also said Mrs. Arroyo’s directive stands, as the government needs to protect the integrity of the country’s nursing profession in the eyes of the international community and the local medical care industry.

"By the rule of law we have to consider that there is such a case in court," Ermita told reporters following an emergency Cabinet meeting at Malacañang yesterday on typhoon "Milenyo." "But there is already a decision in principle by the President."

"Definitely we cannot take action on the extent of the retake, on who should retake (the exam), we don’t know how the CA will bear on the decision of the President," he said.

He also said the Palace wants the retake of the exams to be conducted before the regular tests in December. He said the government will release the initial P52 million needed to subsidize the examination retake.

Professional Regulation Commission Chairwoman Leonor Rosero earlier said the PRC cannot immediately act on Mrs. Arroyo’s directive because the government must await the CA decision on the petition filed a month ago by faculty members of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) college of nursing, the League of Concerned Nurses and the Binuklod na Samahan ng mga Student Nurses.

The petitioners sought a retake of the examination after the PRC took a "no retake" stance.

Ermita and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and PRC are now finalizing the details of the retake while awaiting the CA decision.

"We appeal for the cooperation of all concerned, as this is a matter of national interest," Bunye said in a statement. "There could be no better way, at least for the meantime, for us to ensure the integrity and reputation of our health professionals in the eyes of the people and the world."

Bunye made the statement as he gave assurances that the "architects of this scam who have messed up the honor of nursing profession will be brought to justice."

"Upholding the integrity not just of the nursing licensure examinations but those of other professions is the primordial reason for the President’s decision to order a retake," he said.

Ermita also offered consolation to the examinees: They will no longer have to pay examination fees, as the government will subsidize their retaking the nursing exam.

He said the government would fork out P52 million to cover the cost of retaking the licensure examination.

"We appeal for the cooperation of all concerned, as this is a matter of national interest," Bunye said.

Ermita also expressed hope that the CA will make a speedy resolution of the case so the government can start working on the guidelines for the retake with deference to the court decision.
Not contemptuous
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the President’s order for a retake of the nursing licensure examinations marred by a leakage scandal is not contemptuous, despite the matter pending before the CA.

In a telephone interview, Gonzalez said Mrs. Arroyo’s decision was made following a majority position taken by members of the Cabinet during their meeting the other day.

"Well, I don’t think that is contemptuous. The matter of pendency of the issue with the Court of Appeals is being taken into consideration by Malacañang," he said.

Gonzalez said the retake of the nursing examination does not cover all the subjects and will be confined to only the two subjects allegedly marred by leakage.

"The CA is right now actually preventing the oath-taking," he said. "If that temporary restraining order (TRO) stands, then, it has enough basis. If the CA will eventually rule that there will be a retake, then (the President’s retake order) will be in accordance with the CA’s ruling."

On Sept. 12, the PRC and the Board of Nursing (BON) asked the CA to lift the TRO it issued last month, which stopped the oath-taking of over 15,000 new nurses.

In a 48-page comment with prayer for the lifting of the TRO filed through Assistant Solicitor-General Amy Lazaro-Javier, the PRC and the BON said the UST College of Nursing Faculty Association led by its president Rene Luis Tadle, the League of Concerned Nurses headed by its president Earl Francis Sumile and the Binuklod na Samahan ng mga Student Nurse led by Michael Angelo Brant have no legal standing to file their case.

The PRC and BON said Tadle, Sumile and Brant’s groups have not proven the actual injury they would suffer from the PRC’s decision not to order a retake of the nursing licensure examination.

The PRC and BON also noted that two of the petitioners are not even registered nurses or examinees in the recent nursing examination.

"Even if they were, they have utterly failed to prove that their right to life, liberty and property is impaired or in danger of being impaired, their reputation in the nursing or academic community prejudiced, or their financial or economic status diminished," the PRC and BON said in their petition. — With Aurea Calica, Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla

http://philstar.com/philstar/News200609300404.htm

Posted by Thor at 3:27 AM | Permalink | Comments

Malacañang goes slow on nursing retake

Malacañang goes slow on nursing retake

Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net

http://services.inq7.net/express/06/09/30/html_output/xmlhtml/20060929-23876-xml.html

A DAY after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced a partial retake of the leakage-tainted June 2006 nursing licensure examinations, Malacañang now says it will await the Court of Appeals’ decision on a pending case on the matter.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he was told by Labor Secretary Arturo Brion of a reminder from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) about the case.

The appellate court’s decision, he said, "could very well bear on the decision on the level of (the) retake" and when, where, and who should take the examination.

Several groups have asked the court to order a retake of the whole licensure exam. Other groups contend the retake should be only for portions in which test questions were leaked while still others say only those who took the tests in Manila and Baguio, where the leakage reportedly took place, should retake the board exam.

Ermita said he was confident the issue would be resolved before December, when the next nursing licensure examination is scheduled.

On Thursday, Arroyo, in a chance meeting with nursing students near Malacañang Palace said she favored a retake of only tests 3 and 5, the portions of the board exams tainted by leaked questions. She also said the retake should take place before the December nursing board exam.

Ermita also said the government is setting aside 52 million pesos in case of a retake so examinees will not have to shoulder the cost of taking the test again.

"We cannot make final action as to the extent of the retake and who should retake. Let us see how the Court of Appeals decision will bear on such a decision," he said.

But Ermita reiterated that the President is standing firm on her decision that a retake is in order.

The Labor department and PRC were supposed to iron out details of the retake in a meeting last Wednesday, but deferred action because of the pending petition.

Ermita also said the Palace would abide by any decision of the court.

He pointed to an earlier statement by Arroyo that “just is just, let's be fair; those who passed, don't let them suffer. But again because of the discussion in the Cabinet, somehow the President considered" ordering a retake.

http://services.inq7.net/express/06/09/30/html_output/xmlhtml/20060929-23876-xml.html

Posted by Thor at 3:05 AM | Permalink | Comments

Palace defers exam retake

By Sam Mediavilla, Reporter

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Friday that the government is deferring its action on the retake of the nursing licensure examination until the Court of Appeals acts on a pending petition on the issue.

“We cannot make a final action on the extent of the retake and who should retake because we will look at how the Court of Appeals’ decision will bear on the issue,” he said.

Ermita said Labor Secretary Arturo Brion had been told by Professional Regulations Commission chief Leonor Rosero to wait for the court’s decision on the case filed by nurses who recently took their oaths.

He explained that President Arroyo’s decision earlier this week ordering the 42,000 nursing graduates who took the June examinations to take the test again was meant to save the integrity of the nursing profession.

The President on Thursday announced that she had agreed to allow the retake of Tests 3 and 5 of the examinations.

Ermita said the government would shoulder the expenses to be incurred by the commission for the retake.

P52 million has been allocated for the retake.

Source:

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/sept/30/yehey/top_stories/20060930top5.html

Posted by Anonymous at 1:20 AM | Permalink | Comments

ON 42,000-EXAMINEE EXAM RETAKE..

For: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS CONCERNED

From: A CONCERNED CITIZEN (not Rondy Jose) Doing Business with

the Government Who Does not Want to Court Blacklisting….

ON 42,000-EXAMINEE EXAM RETAKE,

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE DEMOCRATIC TENET:

PUNISH THE GUILTY AND SPARE THE INNOCENT?

Pag nag-retake po ba ang 42,000 examinees, solved na ang perennial problem of cheating? Me foolproof system na ba na magsisiguro na ang retake mismo ay wala ng cheating? Ano ang mga steps na gagawin para in a short period of time ay mayroong foolproof system within the year?

Saka, it is not a matter of asking 42,000 examinees to retake Tests 3 and 5. Kailangang i-sort out yung examinees na talagang bagsak sa ibang subjects at dapat magretake hindi lang ng Tests 3 and 5 kung hindi lahat ng Tests 1 to 5.

Otherwise, magdadalawang retake sila, at hindi dapat ang pagtake ng entire exam in two installments—dahil mas madali yan at baka may umangal na naman. Na kahit ipasa nila yung retake ng Tests 3 and 5, ay hindi pa rin sila pasado sa entire exam dahil bagsak rin sila sa Tests 1, 2, and 4 at ang average grade nila ay hindi passing. Kaya kailangang isabay na nila ang pag-retake ng Tests 1, 2, and 4.

Dapat ma-realize ito ng PRC at Malacanang, na kailangang himayin nila yung ang retake ay Tests 3 and 5 lamang at ihiwalay sa ang retake ay dapat entire exam! Kung ang retake ay separate sa regular exam in December, ay hindi 42,000 ang kasali dito, yun lang na kung maipapasa ang Tests 3 and 5 ay pasado na sa entire exam! Kung sabay naman, dapat himayin at pagkatapos ay bigyan ng notice ang lahat ng examinees. Yung nag-meeting sa Malacanang na nagsabi ng retake ng 42,000, hindi siguro inisip ito kaya akala nila ay ganun kabilis ang magpa-retake ng 42,000. Kailangang mag-ingat sa paghimay dahil puedeng magkamali diyan kung hindi foolproof ang instructrions o programming sa computer.

In fact, worst case scenario, dapat yung Test 5 lang ang may retake, not Test 3. Kaya lang, talagang matigas yata ang ulo (bobo o tuso?) nung mga may gustong isali sa retake ang Test 3. The 17,000 PASSERS have earned VESTED RIGHTS on Test 3, na may natirang 80 or enough valid questions (more than the first 60 graded questions in NCLEX that if answered right enough, the examinee is immediately declared as PASSER of the entire exam with many subjects), kaya dapat walang retake nito.

Sa totoo lang, kaya gustong isama ang retake ng Test 3 sa Test 5 ay dahil kung Test 5 lang ang may retake at nakarating ang issue sa Supreme Court, eh di SIMILARLY SITUATED ito sa 2003 scandal-rocked bar exams na isang subject lang, Mercantile Law, ang may issue ng leakage kaya nagkaroon ng PRECEDENT na no retake, excluded na lang ang entire subject sa recomputation ng grades--at kung COVERED NG PRECEDENT eh di timbog ang retake proponents sa Supreme Court!!! Kala nyo di namin alam, he, he, he!

Pero, ang mahal na Pangulo, alam ba niya ito? Kung hindi, naisahan siya at ang mga 17,000 passers at pamilya nito nung nagpa-approve sa kanya ng retake without full disclosure of relevant facts—TANTAMOUNT TO MISREPRESENTATION! Di hindi pala sila bobo kung hindi tuso?

Walang sure passing sa board exams, kahit nga honor graduates may bumabagsak dito, tulad nung sa UST, kaya passers want to protect and preserve their hard-earned rights. May element of LUCK din ito, depende sa kung ang napag-aralang mabuti ng examinee ang siyang lalabas sa exam o hindi—kaya kayabangan o katangahan ang sabihing kung pumasa nung una ay pasado rin sa retake kaya dapat pumayag agad sa retake. Sabagay, hindi ito alam ng mga hindi nakaranas na kumuha ng mahirap na board exam sa buong buhay nila—tulad ni Dr. Dante Ang???

In fairness to the PASSERS, kung ang retake ay Test 5 lang, kung sakaling malasin sila at hindi pumasa sa retake ay posibleng CONDITIONED pa rin sila, hindi total flunker, at pag umulit uli ay Test 5 lang ang uulitin. So including Test 3 in the retake is not a simple matter. It INFRINGES on the VESTED RIGHTS of passers who have substantially passed the requirement for this test subject, especially if we consider the NCLEX system and the Supreme Court's handling of the 2003 scandal-rocked bar exams. Baka magkahiyaan pag nakarating ang isyung ito sa Supreme Court. Saka, hindi ba being bureaucratic lang ang hindi makakita ng validity ng Test 3 under the circumstances?

The PRC exam tests the examinees' ability to pass at least 75% of whatever number of questions is given. If this is applied to Test 3 exclusive of leakage, the examinees should pass 75% of the remaining 80 valid questions. However, precisely, because there are remaining 80 valid questions out of the total 100 questions for Test 3, it is still mathematically possible that there are legitimate and valid passers in Test 3 who will be jeopardized by the subjective and mindless order to retake Test 3—those who got at least 75 correct answers out of the 80 valid questions, which 75 correct answers still meet the required 75% not of the 80 remaining valid questions but of the original 100 questions for Test 3!!! Thus concluding that Test 3 needs retake is NOT ABSOLUTELY CORRECT and violates the rights of those who may have gotten at least 75 correct answers in that test, GET IT??? O where art thou, bakit hindi kayo kumikibo, mathematicians from UP, UE, and UST!!!! Bakit hinayaan ninyong magbigay sa Presidente ng hindi foolproof na recommendation on Test 3 ang mga retake proponents na hindi naman mathematicians???

Sa gobyerno, daming napakalaking kawalanghiyaan ang ginawa ng maraming matatanda na (gaya ni Jocjoc Bolante, Gen. Garcia, etc.?), pero ang Malacanang, ang luwag sa kanila--walang ginawang vigorous pursuit of the cases against them, bakit sa mga 17,000 kabataang nursing passers, ang higpit ng Malacanang?

O kaya si Gng. Imelda Marcos, bakit hindi nag-exert ng all-out effort ang Malacanang na ipakulong siya, and once she is in jail, that is the time to talk of compromise settlement on hidden wealth (assuming compromise is to be tried at all)--meaning NEGOTIATE from a POSITION OF STRENGTH, hindi yung parang si ABCEDE pa ang nanunuyo sa kanya. Kaya ba ayaw habulin si Gng. Imelda ay nanunuyo ang Malacanang dahil may clout pa rin siya at mga anak niya sa voters sa Ilocandia at sa Visayas? Kala nyo hindi rin namin alam, he, he, he!

The 2006 nursing scandal should not be taken in ISOLATION . It has to be related to what was done in the past, in the 2003 bar exam scandal, in the 1996 physical theraphy exam scandal, in the kid-glove treatment of suspected plunderers of the nation, and of murderers and kidnappers whose death penalty has been abolished, and so on. Being so easy on them and so hard on the 2006 passers is unfair and unjust to the latter. And please don't tell them that it is for their own good. Pure speculation lang yung sinasabing kasiraan nila. Iyon ay direct result lang ng paninira sa kanila, na-conditioned tuloy ang minds ng public. Siyempre kung ano ang laging sinasabi tungkol dito, lalo na ng ABS-CBN at Manila Times, ay iyon ang magiging impression ng lahat. LIES repeated often enough will appear as TRUTH. But it is a fact of life that employers do not totally rely on PRC license, they also consider the transcript of record and the fact that the applicant is a nursing graduate--this is exactly what NCLEX is doing (it asks for diploma and transcript of record)--and it is the final nursing licensure exam process in the United States--eh bakit ayaw sabihin na incompetent din ang passers nito!

May challenge na sa Pinoy BSN for Dr. Dante Ang and other retake apostles to denounce the very few questions in NCLEX exams for the sake of sick OFW's and other Filipino patients in US hospitals, so let them heed the challenge kung talagang hindi sila believe sa remaining 80 questions ng Test 3 for one subject vs. first 60 graded questions in NCLEX for all subjects!!! Let them show to the President and to other cabinet officials present during the meeting in Malacanang their conviction of the validity of their retake advocacy by denouncing before the world the established NCLEX exam system with very few questions (75 to 265) compared to that of the 500-question PRC exams. (In NCLEX, if the examinee passes the 60 graded questions out of the first 75 questions, he is automatically declared PASSED and the computerized checking of answers stops, otherwise he is given a second chance and the checking of answers proceeds up to the last and 265 ^th question. If he passes the remaining questions, the examinee passes the exam.)

Kaya siguro dapat ay paratingin ang kasong ito hindi lang sa Court of Appeals kung hindi hanggang sa Supreme Court.

Saka, hindi ba't sinabi na ng maraming government officials, pati ng Presidente, pati ni DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales sa TV, etc. noong una pa na PUNISH THE GUILTY and SPARE THE INNOCENT, ano na ang nangyari sa pronouncement na ito?

Bakit yung mga inosenteng passers sa Mindanao at iba pang lugar na malayo sa cheating ay kasali rin, kung 42,000 ang magre-retake? TALAGA PO BANG ANG PINAKAMATAAS NA OFFICIALS NG BANSA AY WALANG ISANG SALITA? Paano na maniniwala ang taong bayan sa kanila? Kaya tuloy yung sinasabi nila sa Cha-cha, maraming hindi believe—kaya hintayin na lang ang plebiscite kahit ito ay gastos lang.

Kung ganyan din lang ang usapan, baka mabuti ay protect na rin ang integrity and image hindi lang ng nursing profession kung hindi ng buong bansa before the world. REMOVE THE DOUBT OF CHEATING IN THE LAST NATIONAL ELECTIONS—BECAUSE THAT DOUBT IS REAL, AS ELOQUENTLY EXPRESSED BY THE ONGOING APPEAL BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL OF MS. LOREN LEGARDA IN THE PURSUIT OF WHICH SHE SPENDS MULTI-MILLION PESOS--AND THE SUPPRESSED GARCI TAPES AND THE MAYUGA REPORT AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE?-- KAYA DAPAT AY REELECTION NA RIN NG PRESIDENTE AT IBA PA!!!!

In short, ang sagot sa RETAKE---REELECTIONNNNN!!!!

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Posted by Anonymous at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Friday, September 29, 2006

NO RETAKE!

60,000 GRADUATES FEARS THE ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT

Despite the order of the President, the graduates are dismayed of the decision of retake. They fear that after what happened to the June Nursing Board Passers could also happen to them and told us that in order to really regain the integrity of nursing profession is to prosecute those people who tainted the said exam, in that way it will serve as a lesson for other people. They said that the solution to these problems may regain the integrity of our profession but it could be a key, to be use again by those people every time they weren't satisfied by the result of the exam. In fact, an order for the retake is a violation of human rights.

A PASSER’S PLEA

I am dismayed with the order of the President, for not standing with the first statement she said. "Pinaasa niya lang kami." The real future here is what the governement doesn't see; it should start in our country. Yes, the fact that there is a retake, but do we have enough hospitals to hire us? Imagine 60,000 ang graduates ngayon plus they want us to retake? Ang liit ng suweldo ng nurses today. Pamasahe pa lang kulang na, at kapag minalas malas ka pa , volunteer ang abot mo, walang bayad. That's why all of the nurses go abroad, because if they stay here it will be a suicide.

They should have exempt the 17,821 board passers from retake and considered the time, hard works, anxiety, accomodations, expenses our parents spent for us, etc. It is very unfair, that we work hard at school, the fact that we are March and April graduates then no offense; we are being overlapped with the Octoberians?

In fact, that in other schools like in Our Lady of Fatima University, they will not graduate if they didn't pass the comprehensive exam, and should take the qualifying exam, in order for their transcripts to be released and take the board exam. One student said, "grabe salang-sala kami dito, kaya kung mauulit ang mga nangyari sa June board passers sa amin, eh ang sakit non sobra, kasi ang tagal bago namin inantay tong moment na ito."

It is not right, that we are the ones to pay for the sins of other people. We are innocent and we will not retake. If we retake, it shows that the passers did benefit from the leakage. We are just protecting our own integrity.

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Posted by Thor at 6:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

A REACTION ON THE RETAKE DECISION OF PGMA

A reaction on the retake decision of PGMA

The June 2006 Board Passers are deeply saddened by these turn of events. President Arroyo, for some reason beyond comprehension, suddenly decided to let them retake the exams after declaring a few weeks back to protect the innocent and persecute the guilty...

If this is her decision, is she then convinced that these batch of examinees are guilty. If so, what crime are they guilty of? If this batch of passers then are not to be recognized as professional nurses then why are they given the responsibility of earning the integrity for this profession? Shouldn't the responsibility have been placed on those so-called professional nurses who perpetrated this leakage?

A parable in the bible tells the story of a land owner who ordered his tenant to plant wheat and the tenant did as he was told. As the wheat grew, the tenant saw that, with the wheat, weeds also grew. The tenant volunteered to uproot the weeds for the land owner. The landowner refused because by doing so, the tenant might uproot the wheat. So as days went, the weeds did grow with the wheat. When harvest day came, the land owner ordered the tenant to gather the wheat and separate it from the weeds. Once they have finished gathering the wheat, that was the only time they took the weeds aside and threw them to fire.

I hope the President will see the wisdom in this parable. Just because she cannot weed out the cheats for now, is she really willing to sacrifice the innocent?

The NLE is not the only exam these passers need to take. Everyday is a test for all nurses.

To Angelo Brant: A summa cum laude proves nothing more than a hardworking and intelligent student.

To those who failed: A Board passers prove nothing more than minimum competency

To the BON, PNA, ADPCN etc.: Certificates on the wall, trophies on the shelf and titles to your name do not make anyone a better person.

To UST: True greatness comes from lifting others to your pedestal, not by looking down.

At the end of the day, the worth of a good nurse, like a good human being, is measured just as much by what is in his heart as what is in his touch and in his head.

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Posted by Thor at 6:12 PM | Permalink | Comments

NURSING LEADERS ARE RIDING ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PETITIONERS

NURSING LEADERS ARE RIDING ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PETITIONERS

In all the turmoil that has been going on these past months, the June 2006 Nursing Board Examinees have barely been given a voice. The ADPCN and PNA seem to be pitching the board examinees against each other… Making the passers appear as if they do not care for their friends who did not pass… Making the non-passers look as if they are sour graping… Now these other committee's and leagues appear in the scene...Making those who don't want the retake look selfish and without regard for the well being of the public... Making those who want a retake look heartless.

For all its worth, these nursing leaders who recently put the oathtaking on hold are having the ride of their life. After having this scandal blow up in their colleagues faces, they suddenly rally behind public health and safety, and the rights of the petitioners, after they could not ride on the values of honesty, justice and integrity. After all, it was found that these values were lacking among their colleagues.

If it was public health and safety they were concerned then they should realize that it would be much better to give the board passers their license and allow them to practice. In Government hospitals, the nurse-patient ratio could reach as much as 1:20. After all, these nurses will undergo additional screening and training in the hospitals where they wish to work, and the hospital may not employ them if they were found to be not competent. Not only that, these passers have better reasons to practice their profession well, because their motivation to serve would not only be financial but to keep their dignity that has been marred these past months, as well.

Also, if there were any violations to talk about, why don't they start with the roles of the BON and PNA... which would include not upholding the profession and making sure its members are treated justly. I mean, while they sit in their airconditioned offices, the ordinary nurse, risking life and limb for the sick, is receiving take home pay that cannot afford her to buy medicines should she herself suffer a serious illness.

These so-called leaders are having a grand ride. They have great fun magnifying the inadequacies of these recent board passers, neophytes in this profession, while scampering to cover their grave incompetencies, in spite of the fact that they have benifitted from their profession for years.

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Posted by Thor at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

A new nursing exam is necessary

EDITORIAL
A new nursing exam is necessary

PRESIDENT Arroyo’s decision to have a retake of the June nursing licensure examination will help restore the integrity of Filipino registered nurses in the global and national communities and uphold the credibility of government-sponsored licensure examinations.

It is now the job of Labor Secretary Arturo Brion and the top officials of the Philippine Regulatory Commission to determine the scope of the new exam, whether to conduct a partial or full retake, whether only the examinees who received the leaked questions in Tests 3 and 5 should take part in the test.

The decision follows an earlier order to transfer the commission from the Office of the President to the labor department “for general direction and coordination.” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the labor office is “in a better position” to supervise the PRC. This remains to be seen.

A case of leakage in the June tests marred the integrity of the highly competitive board exam and the employability in overseas markets of Filipino nurses, considered a gem in the country’s foreign labor program.

The scandal also prompted the United States National Council for Licensure Examination to reconsider using the Philippines as a test site for foreign nursing graduates. Allowing Filipino nurses to take the NCLEX test in Manila saves them a lot of expense, the stress of travel and more time to prepare for the tests.

Dr. Dante A. Ang, chairman of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and head of a study committee to review the leakage and to recommend appropriate action, had recommended a retake of the licensure exam. The scandal has tainted the professionalism and character of Filipino nurses, including the honest ones, Dr. Ang said.

“At issue is the question of competence, as well as the trust in the Filipino nurses by the healthcare community,” the commission chief said.

Two members of the commission nursing board are under investigation for involvement in the leakage.

The commission and the Board of Nursing compounded the problem by lowering the passing mark. They punished the innocent when they gave a two percent bonus to the examinees, allowing 1,600 flunkers to pass,

In their haste to prevent the cheaters from benefiting from the leak, they invalidated 20 questions for Test 3 (even if all 25 questions were leaked) and reduced the percent weight for Test 5 from 20 to 10, lowering the passing average and throwing the honest candidates in the company of the undeserving. By using a score-recomputation formula, the Board of Nursing and the PRC punished the examinees who got perfect or near-perfect scores without cheating in Tests 3 and 5, because their scores in those tests were practically made nil and they were given a computed score for those tests based on their scores on the Tests 1, 2 and 4. And they opposed a retake.

The labor department and the commission should expedite the conduct of the new examination. The National Bureau of Investigation ought to speed up its investigation into the origins and authorship of the leakage.

Meanwhile, Malacanang may reconsider its decision to transfer supervision of the Professional Regulatory Commission to the Department of Labor and Employment. The department has neither the experience nor the expertise or manpower to coordinate and oversee the PRC’s 43 boards.

FROM:http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/sept/29/yehey/opinion/20060929opi1.html

Posted by sweet_periwinkle at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments

PRC awaits CA word on nursing exams

PRC awaits CA word on nursing exams
By Sheila Crisostomo
The Philippine Star 09/29/2006

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is leaving it up to the Court of Appeals (CA) to decide whether a new licensure examination for the June batch of nursing graduates should be administered.

"We’ll wait for the decision of the CA," PRC Chairwoman Leonor Rosero said when asked for her reaction to President Arroyo’s order for a retake of the leakage-tainted exams. "It’s already in court."

Rosero said the PRC met with Labor Secretary Arturo Brion yesterday morning and they agreed to let the CA decide the fate of the June nursing licensure examination passers.

The President, talking to nursing graduates who approached her while she was inspecting the damage caused by a huge tree uprooted by typhoon "Milenyo" to the front yard of the St. Jude’s Church near Malacañang, said she will not reverse her decision on the June nursing exam.

Mark Soriano, a graduate of the Lyceum of the Philippines- Pangasinan and one of the passing examinees of the exam, asked Mrs. Arroyo to consider the nursing graduates who passed the exam but did not cheat.

"There’s no way to determine who did not participate (in the cheating), that’s the problem," the President told Soriano and other nursing graduates who accompanied him. "Now, to make the burden lighter, the review and other expenses (of the exams) will be subsidized by the government."

The CA is now hearing a petition filed a month ago by the faculty members of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) college of nursing, the League of Concerned Nurses and the Binuklod na Samahan ng mga Student Nurses.

The petitioners sought a retake of the examination as they questioned the actions taken by the PRC to cleanse the examination of leaked test questions. Pending its decision on the petition, the CA issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping the oath-taking of passing examinees.

Since the leakage controversy broke out, the PRC has taken a firm "no retake" stand, saying it believes that, of over 17,000 passing examinees, only around 2,000 to 3,000 examinees gained access to the leaked test questions.

Mrs. Arroyo also said she ordered that the retake would be conducted before the next regular licensure examinations in December.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the President’s decision stands despite protests from some groups. Bunye said this move will serve national interests by upholding the integrity of the country’s nursing profession.

Malacañang also said it will not sidestep the petition for a retake pending before the CA with the President’s decision.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor and Commission on Filipinos Overseas head Dante Ang said Brion, who is a former CA justice, and the PRC will decide on the action to be taken so the decision of the Executive branch will not unduly interfere with the judicial proceedings.

Defensor and Ang said Mrs. Arroyo’s decision to order a retake was the result of a "debate" presentation by Brion on the situation of nurses and the nursing profession as a result of the leakage issue.

Ang said the most contentious issues now are whether or not both the passing and failing examinees will retake the exam and whether or not all the tests will be covered or just tests three and five, the questions of which had been leaked.

"The President was very emphatic in saying that we must protect the innocent, but at the same time uphold the integrity of the nurses’ profession and the system as a whole," Ang said.

"After the pros and cons were (weighed she decided on a) retake to give the country a good image before the local and international community," he added.

Several passers and flunkers in the June licensure exam asked the CA to stop the PRC from issuing licenses to those who passed the test and to order the PRC to reschedule the retaking of portions of test three because of the leakage.

In a statement, Bunye asked all parties involved in the matter of the controversial nursing exam "to put their recriminations aside and focus on a credible and untainted retake of the exams."

"This is a final decision of President Arroyo in the national interest and we ask for full cooperation from all sectors concerned," he said. "Her only wish is to uphold the integrity of the Philippine nursing profession, which is known to be one of the best in the world."

According to Bunye, "the nursing profession is not only a shining symbol of the Filipino culture of caring, but our source of pride and dignity in the international community."

He also assured the public that justice will be served in the matter of the investigation into the alleged leakage of test questions as he called on all stakeholders to ensure that this incident is never repeated: "The fortunes of thousands of nurses are at stake and we must not let them down."

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier said Mrs. Arroyo gave the go-ahead for a retake of the nursing licensure examinations following deliberations by concerned Cabinet officials during a meeting at Malacañang Tuesday.

He also said the President issued Executive Order 565 putting the PRC under the supervision of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The PRC said ordering a retake of the nursing test would mean punishing even examinees innocent of cheating. However, the commission admitted that it is not possible to identify the examinees who benefited from the leakage because there was no clustering of high grades in the examination.

Justice in the judiciary

The Alliance of New Nurses (ANN), the group formed by the passing examinees, said it remains confident that the appellate court will rule in their favor.

"We are very hopeful that justice will be on our side," ANN president Renato Aquino said. "We still believe there’s justice in our judiciary, that they are independent of Malacañang. We want those who perpetrated the leakage prosecuted, but please spare the innocent ones."

Those supporting calls for a retake of the nursing licensure examination, on the other hand, expressed elation over the President’s decision.

University of the Philippines Institute of Health Policy and Development Study director Dr. Marilyn Lorenzo said the retake order will eliminate the stigma on this year’s passing batch of nursing examinees.

Lorenzo said that, if the people look beyond the immediate impact of a retake, especially among those who passed the test, they will realize that a retake will provide a far better future for the country’s nursing profession.

However, since the nursing licensure test is scheduled for December, Lorenzo proposed that the exam retake for the June batch of examinees be administered in November.

She said it would be chaotic to hold two examinations simultaneously. Lorenzo said the June batch of nursing examinees number about 42,000, while the December batch of examinees number 60,000.

She added that the UP Institute of Health Policy and Development Study is willing to assist the PRC in coming up with questionnaires for the two examinations.

At the Senate, Sen. Richard Gordon welcomed the President’s decision to order a retake of the nursing licensure examination.

"Better late than never," Gordon said. "I have long maintained that the only way to put closure to this matter is, at the very least, by way of requiring a retake of tests three and five of the board for everyone shown to have received the leaked questions."

Gordon said the retake should not affect the filing of charges, both administrative and criminal, against members of the PRC, the Board of Nursing (BON) and the concerned review centers.

"(It is) just as important now to continue working to ensure that all those behind the leakage are caught and duly punished," he said.

Gordon expressed hope that the controversy will help concerned agencies realize the need to introduce reforms in the nursing community.

"Our nursing community can come together and work with the government to help introduce the necessary programs and policies that will prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future and that will uplift the industry standards for nursing education as well," he said.

With the President’s move, Gordon said, the country’s nurses may be able to immediately regain the confidence they lost because of the controversy.

"The world healthcare community will appreciate this move by the Philippine government because it shows how serious we are in addressing this matter," Gordon said. — With Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez, Aurea Calica, Marvin Sy

FROM: http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200609290403.htm

Posted by sweet_periwinkle at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments

Arroyo appeals for cooperation on nursing board retake

Arroyo appeals for cooperation on nursing board retake

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net
Last updated 05:14pm (Mla time) 09/28/2006

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appealed for full cooperation from all concerned sectors for her order to have nursing graduates who took the controversial licensure examinations in June retake the tests.

The June board examinations became tainted with scandal following the discovery that test questions had been leaked.

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the Arroyo’s decision was prompted by a wish to "uphold the integrity of the Philippine nursing profession," which he said had gained a reputation to be one of the world's best.

"This is a final decision of President Arroyo in the national interest, and we ask for full cooperation from all sectors concerned," Bunye said.

"The nursing profession is not only a shining symbol of the Filipino culture of caring, but our source of pride and dignity in the international community," Bunye said.

As the investigation into the leakage continues, Bunye appealed to all parties "to put their recriminations aside and focus on a credible and untainted retake of the exams."

On Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced Arroyo's decision for a retake of the tests.

But he said the other details, such as who will have to repeat the examinations, when it will be conducted, and whether it will be a full or partial retake, will depend on the outcome of a meeting between the Department of Labor and the Philippine Regulation Commission.

FROM: http://globalnation.inq7.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=23647

Posted by sweet_periwinkle at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Comments

Palace to fund retake of nursing board exam

MALACANANG said Thursday it will subsidize the retake of Test 3 and 5, which was the subject of the leakage, of the 2006 nursing board examinations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told a small group of nursing examinees, who she met at the St. Jude Church while she was inspecting the removal of debris along J.P. Laurel St., all nursing examinees of the 2006 nursing board must retake the examinations.

She said those who did not pass the exams could either retake or take the next scheduled board exams.

"It's the best decision for now," Arroyo assured the three students led by Mark Soriano, a nursing graduate of the Lyceum of the Philippines in Pangasinan.

She said the problem is "there is no way to determine who did not participate" in the leakage.

"It's hard to determine who. That's the problem that's why to make the burden lighter, government will subsidize the next regular exams," she said.

The students were in St. Jude Church to attend the Thursday mass of the church's patron saint, known as the patron saints of the impossible. The regular mass was canceled due to the typhoon.

Malacañang also called on all stakeholders in the nursing exams to set aside their differences and work for a credible retake of the examinations.

Arroyo ordered the retake of the 2006 exams to restore the credibility of the nursing profession both here and abroad.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the retake is Arroyo's "final decision" for the sake of "national interest" and that concerned sectors should give the government their full cooperation.
"Even as justice takes its course in the relentless probe of the leakage, we appeal to all parties to put their recriminations aside and focus on a credible and untainted retake of the exams," Bunye said.

He said the leakage in the 2006 nursing board exams must never be repeated. "The fortunes of thousands of nurses are at stake, and we must not let them down," he also said.

He said the nursing profession is a shining symbol of the Filipino culture of caring and "our source of pride and dignity in the international community."

Senator Richard Gordon meanwhile lauded Arroyo's order for the nursing board exam retake, saying, "It is better late than never."

"I have long maintained that the only way to put closure to this matter is, at the very least by way of requiring a retake of tests 3 and 5 of the board exams for everyone shown to have received the leaked exam questions." Gordon said.

He said the image of the Philippine Nursing community is at stake and if the government will not do anything to correct this negative, this will affect the career of innocent nurses who worked really hard to become nurses.

The world healthcare community, he added, will appreciate this move by the Philippine government, "because it shows how serious we are in addressing this matter."

But Gordon said it is very important that proper agencies unmask and charged those behind the leakage. (JMR/CB/Sunnex)

FROM: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2006/09/29/news/palace.to.fund.retake.of.nursing.board.exam.html

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Commentary: Cebu should be exempt from nursing board retake

Commentary: Cebu should be exempt from nursing board retake

Cebu City (29 September) -- Cebu should be excluded from President Arroyo's order for a retake of the June 2006 nursing board examination as it did not benefit from the leakage which was solely limited to Baguio and Manila.

Cebu City Councilor Atty. Edgardo Labella said Cebu was not one of the areas alluded to where cheating took place and hoped that the President would reconsider her decision.

The controversial board exams produced five topnotchers in Cebu who together with other nursing board passers in the region protested the retake as unfair as the examinees from Cebu and the Visayas took the test honestly through proper review and study.

To voice out their sentiments against the retake, a rally was held this morning at Fuente Osmeña spearheaded by the newly formed 'Tapok-tapok sa Nagkahiusang Nurses Batok sa Retake' (Tanan) composed of 1,723 board passers from Central Visayas.

Labella, Tanan legal counsel, said the group plans to submit a manifesto to the President on Cebu's exemption of a retake.

The retake of the exam would mean another round of reviews for students whose parents would have to spend again for the laborious exercise, according to Labella.

President Arroyo ordered for the retake of the June 2006 nursing board exam in order to redeem the image of Filipino nurses here and abroad. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)

FROM: http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=10&sec=news&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p060929.htm&no=56

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Roxas says retake of nursing

Roxas says retake of nursing
board exams right thing to do

SEN. Mar Roxas lauds the President for requiring a retake of the June 2006 Nursing Licensure Examination.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the senator said a retake is necessary to redeem the integrity and credibility of the nursing profession. He noted that the licensure and accreditation system administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) suffered a serious blow because of the reported leakage of the questions.

“Never mind if the decision came late,” Roxas said of the President’s decision. “It’s still the right thing to do.”

The senator said the integrity of the licensure and accreditation system must be upheld, and only a retake of the test could accomplish that. He added the retake would erase the stigma, perhaps unfairly stamped on the 17,821 nursing graduates who passed the board. Most important of all, it would assure hospitals and medical institutions that they are placing their patients under the care of competent nurses.

Roxas called on PRC and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to come up with a program to help the affected nursing graduates take the test anew with a minimum inconvenience and expense.

“The government should provide financial support since those who [are being asked to take] the nursing board exams are a victim of its failure.”

As regards the people responsible for the leakage, Roxas said they must be made to answer for their action, which had wrought damage on the system.

“Heads must roll at the PRC,” Roxas stressed.

The senator urged Labor Secretary Arturo Brion and Dr. Dante Ang, chair of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, to inform hospitals and medical institutions abroad, especially in countries interested in hiring Filipino nurses, of what the government intends to do.

He expressed confidence that implementation of the Presidential directive would put a closure to the scandal.

He said the best proof of failure is the thousands of students who now have to prepare once more and re-take a new board exam.

FROM:http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/sept/29/yehey/metro/20060929met1.html

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Only 2 portions of nursing exam to be retaken

By GENALYN D. KABILING

All nursing examinees who took the June licensure examinations will only retake two portions of the exam before the end of the year with the government agreeing to shoulder the costs, President Arroyo announced yesterday

The President said only Tests 3 and 5 would be the scope of the planned retake scheduled before the regular board exams in December.

The government will subsidize the retake of the nursing exams for the examinees which is intended to restore the integrity of the country’s nursing profession, the President said.

"It’s the best decision for now," Mrs. Arroyo said in a chance meeting with a small group of new nursing graduates at Malacañang grounds

The President was inspecting the damage of typhoon "Milenyo" at the Malacañang complex, particularly near the St. Jude Church when she encountered Mark Soriano and two other new nursing graduates from Lyceum Pangasinan.

The new nurses, emerging from the church, appealed to the President to reconsider her decision about the retake but the Chief Executive stood pat in her decision.

Early in the day, Malacañang appealed to the public to rally behind a "credible and untainted" retake of the nursing licensure examinations as directed by the Chief Executive. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the leakage in the June 2006 nursing test should happen again so as to restore the tarnished integrity of the country’s nursing profession.

"Even as justice takes its course in the relentless probe of the leakage, we appeal to all parties to put their recriminations aside and focus on a credible and untainted retake of the exams," Bunye said in a statement.

"Let us also ensure that this unfortunate incident is never repeated. The fortunes of thousands of nurses are at stake, and we must not let them down," he added.

Bunye said the retake of the scandal-tainted nursing exams last June was the "final decision" of the President in the interest of the nation.

"We ask for full cooperation from all the sectors concerned. Her only wish is to uphold the integrity of the Philippine nursing profession which is known to be one of the best in the world," he said.

He said the nursing profession was not only a "shining symbol of the Filipino culture of caring, but our source of pride and dignity in the international community."

President Arroyo has ordered the re-examination of the June nursing tests based on the recommendation of the Cabinet members last Tuesday, ending a nationwide debate on the matter.

Meanwhile, the opposition bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday hailed Malacañang for ordering a retake in the June 2006 nursing exam, saying it was the right thing to do to address the leakage that affected the credibility of the nursing profession.

Opposition lawmakers, however, likewise raised the issue of cheating in the 2004 presidential elections, which they related to the leakage in the licensure examination for nurses.

Opposition Rep. Gilbert Remulla of Cavite said there would have been a closure to the legitimacy issue had President Arroyo also agreed to a "retake" by answering allegations that she cheated her way to victory in the last elections.

"In this rare instance, GMA showed that cheating should not be condoned. If only she treated elections the same way. She should also make a retake by facing electoral fraud charges fair and square," said Remulla.

House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Rolex Suplico of Iloilo said President Arroyo finally showed political will in addressing the leakage issue.

"At least may political will na ang Arroyo government," said Suplico.

Reps. Roilo Golez of Parañaque and Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Jr. of Aurora said that although what Malacañang did was right, they still could not help but question why it took the Palace so long to favor a retake.

"It’s the right decision and the only right decision. Why it took them a long time to arrive at (such decision)? That is a great mystery," Golez said.

Angara added: "Probably a good decision but maybe it should have come earlier." (with a report by Edmer Panesa)

Source:

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2006092975814.html

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