CHED told: Close all diploma mills

ABS CBN NEWS

Senate President Franklin Drilon on Friday warned the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of drastic budgetary cuts if it fails to take sanctions against diploma mills or substandard schools.

In a statement Drilon urged CHED Chairman Carlito Puno to take more stringent measures against colleges and universities as well as academic programs that were supposed to have been phased out for repeated failure to produce professionals.

These colleges and universities, Drilon noted, have been ordered closed down because the passing rate in licensure exams for four consecutive academic years ranged from zero to five percent.

Drilon also deplored the apparent failure of CHED to publish the names of the diploma mills in newspapers of general circulation to warn parents against enrolling their children in them.

During the Senate committee of the whole hearing this week on the proposed CHED budget for 2006, Puno revealed that a total of 205 academic programs and 194 schools were ordered closed for the dismal performance of their graduates in professional licensure exams.

"It’s about time CHED took drastic and concrete steps to stop these diploma mills from making milking cows of students as well as parents and providing substandard education," Drilon said.

"If CHED cannot immediately padlock these substandard schools, the least it can do is publish their names to warn parents in advance," he added.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) had complained that CHED was allowing schools offering questionable courses to increase their tuition.

NUSP leaders had called on CHED officials to prevent other diploma mills from deceiving their students. At least 26 schools, the NUSP said, were still operating 49 programs without the government permits, while 115 colleges and universities have been phased out for failing to produce professionals.

In his testimony before the Senate, Puno submitted a document listing 78 schools with zero passing rates in licensure examinations as well as 205 academic programs that were ordered phased out.

Listed as schools with zero passing rates in licensure examinations were:

Rizal Memorial College, Southwestern Mindanao Islamic Institute, West Bay College, Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology, Aklan College, Aklan State University-Makato, Annunciation College, Arellano University-Manila, Arellano University-Pasay, Assumption College of Nabunturan, Cagayan Capitol College, Cagayan State University-Lal-lo, Cagayan State University-Sanchez Mira, Canossa College, Carlos A. Hilado Memorial State College-Bacolod, Cebu State College of Science and Technology-Lahug, Central Maguindanao Institute, Cotabato City State Polytechnic College, Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology, Divine World College of Urdaneta, Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College-Quezon City, Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial Agricultural College, Dynamic Computer Centrum-Legaspi, Eastern Samar State College-Borongan, Estanislao Kotska College, Fatima College of Camiguin, Foundation University, Golden Gate Colleges, Holy Infant College, Iloilo College of Business and Computer, Isabela Colleges Foundation, Isabelo B. Calingasan Memorial Institute, Jamiatu Marawi Al-Islamia Foundation, Jose Rizal Memorial State College-Dapitan, Kalinga Apayao State College (Kalinga Community College), La Carlota City Community College, La Consolacion College-Bacolod City, La Consolation College-La Carlota City, Lanao Agricultural College Ext.-Lanao del Sur, Lyceum Northwestern, Lyceum of Northern Luzon, Medina College, Metro Tagaytay College of Business and Arts, Midway Maritime and Technical Foundation, Mount Carmel College-Baler, Muntinlupa Polytechnic College, National University, Navotas Polytechnic College, Negros Maritime College Foundation Inc.-Dumaguete, Northeastern Mindanao Colleges, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Northern Zambales College (Virgen DRC)-Olongapo, Northwestern Visayan College, Olivarez College, Osmeña College-Masbate, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay, Panay State Polytechnic College-Dumarao, Panay State Polytechnic College-San Carlos City, Partido College, PASS College, Pedro T. Mendiola Sr. Technological and Polytechnic College, Perpetual Help College of Pangasinan, Philippine College of Science and Technology-Calasiao-Pangasinan, Rizal Technological University, Saint Columban’s College-Lingayen, Saint Gabriel College-Kalibo, Saint Joseph Institute of Technology, Saint Louis College-Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Saint Mary’s College-Boac, Siquijor State College, Southeastern College-Pasay, Southeastern Baptist College, University of Northern Philippines-Candon, Zamboanga del Norte Agricultural College, Zamboanga del Sur Agricultural College-Dumingag Zamboanga del Sur.

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