Thursday, September 07, 2006
Nurses group, parents reject board exam "re-take"
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
PARENTS of nursing board exam passers here insist their children should not be punished for the crime committed by a few people in "imperial Manila," saying their kids should be allowed to become full-fledged nurses as they passed the Nursing Licensure Examinations legitimately.
The call was backed by the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) in Southern Mindanao who admitted they were first at calling for a "re-take" of the exams, but has decided otherwise after a referendum was held among PNA chapters nationwide and the majority took the "no retake" stand.
PNA-Southern Mindanao Governor Dr. Roberto Palec said those who took the exam and passed it with honesty should be not punished by letting them retake the exam.
"Earlier our stand is for the nullification, but, because of the referendum, our stand is to support the no retake and pursue the oath taking," Palec said during the press conference at the Philippine Information Agency office Wednesday.
Palec said those who passed this year's Nursing Licensure Examinations are suffering a stigma due to the controversies hounding their examination.
"Those who wanted to retake to avoid the stigma, we are not stopping them, provided that we are going to cancel their previous exam result and whatever the new result will be followed," he said.
Meanwhile, parent-spokesperson Reuben Baldoza said they condemn the alleged leakage even if it has not come to the hands of their children.
Baldoza said their children should not be punished for the leakage that happened in "imperial Manila."
Irvin Ted Bagongon of the San Pedro College, who passed the 2006 nursing exam, said they believe they deserved the grades they got.
"We passed and we deserve it. Please let the Court of Appeals lift the Temporary Restraining Order so we can continue with our careers," Bagongon said.
Palec said about 17,000 passed the exam and around 2,800 are from Southern Mindanao.
In a meeting last August 31, parents and passers signed and approved a manifesto, which will be sent to Court of Appeals, Senate, House of Representatives, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, PNA, and the Professional Regulatory Commission anytime Thursday or Friday.
Baldoza said they will ask the Court of Appeals to lift the restraining order and allow the passers to take their oath.
He said they will also be filing appropriate legal action against the personalities involved in the incident.
"We are calling hospitals and other employment forms to treat fairly our children," Baldoza said during the same press conference.
According to Baldoza, the four years training of their children in schools are the better measure of their preparedness, capability, and competency in the practice of their profession.
"Our children sacrificed too much time and effort to fulfill academic and clinical requirements sometimes skipping meals," he said.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 7, 2006 issue)
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