Diploma mills

Rep. Arnel Ty of the party-list group LPG Marketers’ Association (LPG/MA) says only a third of college graduates manage to pass government licensing examinations. Citing Professional Regulation Commission statistics, Ty said that out of the 345,182 college and technical school graduates who went through professional eligibility examinations in 2010, only 125,419 or 36.3 percent passed.

Ty wants the House to conduct an investigation on what is causing this sad state of affairs. Actually, the hearings would probably be a waste of time. We all know why. CHED, the government agency tasked to set standards of tertiary education cannot do its job well because of political interference. And we are talking here not just of substandard private schools but state colleges and universities too.

At one time, the CHED Chairman, a Dominican priest, resigned rather than be pressured by politicians close to Ate Glue. I am sure that if left alone the current CHED Chairman, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, who happens to be a respected educator will pick it up from there. For instance, I hope there will be no interference from congressmen when CHED implements the phase out of nursing programs in low quality nursing schools starting this school year 2011-12, instead of school year 2013-14.

For those who are curious and want to be appalled by the state of things, here are some of the data gathered by Rep Ty on licensure tests and their corresponding 2010 passing rates (in percent): aeronautical engineers (40); agricultural engineers (44.8); agriculturists (36.1); architects (49.8); certified plant mechanics (50); certified public accountants (45.1); chemical engineers (54.7); chemists (56.1); civil engineers (39); criminologists (34);

Customs brokers (29.7); dentists (43.7); electronics engineers (23.5); environmental planners (62.5); fisheries technologists (29.4); foresters (42.1); geodetic engineers (38.5); geologists (56.3); guidance counselors (60); landscape architects (60); librarians (27.3); master plumbers (34.9); marine deck officers-OIC navigational watch (49.2);

Marine engine officers-OIC engineering watch (55.1); mechanical engineers (62.2); medical technologists (66.2); midwives (46); mining engineers (44.6); naval architects and marine engineers (46.6); nurses (38.4); nutritionists and dietitians (70.4); occupational therapists (41.5); optometrists (86.2); pharmacists (57.4). The bar examination is not here but I think it is in the 20-percent range.

In other words, parents and students are spending money for education that makes school owners rich but gives them nothing of value in return. As I have always said in this column, this is such a crime that must be stopped. It is so unfair to the victims as their dreams for a better life are destroyed. There ought to be a law that would punish owners of these diploma mills. –Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star)