Higher education body: We are not sleeping

THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) denied allegations that it is sleeping on its job, citing it jumpstarted reforms with a major impact on scholarship programs for poor but deserving students.

"We vehemently disagree to the allegations that the Commission on Higher Education is sleeping on its job." said Ched Executive Director Julito Vitriolo.

He said the department has also initiated a crackdown on erring nursing, maritime, and law schools in the country despite the threat of lawsuits from school owners.

At the same time, the official said the accusations cropped up when they started the drive against sub-standard schools in the country.

"Certain schools have ganged up on Ched since it stepped up its effort to publicize the performance of higher education institutions in the licensure examination."

Vitriolo said their campaign is also targeting local universities and colleges (LUC) whose numbers have also risen dramatically in the past few years.

There are currently 77 LUCs nationwide and even the Ched admitted they are having a hard time keeping tabs on their operation due to their autonomous set-up.

He added that they will be presenting to incoming Ched Chairperson Patricia Licuanan the achievements of the department in the past two years based on their targets and outputs.

Earlier, two major educators group -- the Philippine National Association of School Securities Organization (PHILNASSO) and the Confederation of Higher Education Institution Administrators (CHIA) welcomed Licuanan's appointment.

But it urged her to immediately revoke the "midnight policy" of outgoing chair Emmanuel Angeles which requires all state universities and colleges (SUCs) to secure permits from the Commission for all their board programs.

Licuanan is set to take over the post on July 19.

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, in naming the new Ched chief, said the agency is sleeping on the job especially in addressing the proliferation of "diploma mills" and sub-standard nursing schools.

Aquino did not hide his dismay on the performance of more than half of the country's nursing schools posting a record of below the national passing average. (AH/Sunnex)

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