TUCP urges CHED to identify substandard schools

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education was urged yesterday to identify the 177 substandard nursing schools nationwide.

Ernesto Herrera, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines secretary-general, said CHED should promptly come out with the list to protect students and their parents when choosing schools next year.

“The CHED should specify the institutions with low-grade nursing programs,” he said.

“This way, parents will be discouraged from sending their daughters and sons to these schools even before they are actually closed down.”

Herrera said without that information students might re-enroll in these substandard nursing schools.

“If the 177 institutions are in fact deficient, then the CHED is duty-bound to promptly alert consumers, and caution them against patronizing these schools,” he said.

Herrera said the public does not know the names of these inferior nursing schools.

“We also have no idea as to when these schools will actually be closed down,” he said.

“Some of them may be able to appeal their cases, and continue to offer nursing programs indefinitely, to the detriment of consumers.”

Herrera said CHED should publish the names of substandard nursing schools to warn students against enrolling in these schools.

“In exchange for tuition, every school is supposed to provide adequate instruction,” he said.

“If a school cannot effectively provide the service, then it is robbing students and their parents of their money.”

Earlier, CHED announced plans to close down 177 nursing schools that failed to produce a single passer in the Nursing Licensure Examination over the last five years.

However, it did not name the schools. — Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star