Editorial: Congratulations, UM!

THE University of Mindanao pulled off a historic feat with seven graduate landing in the Top 10 of the March 2017 Licensure Examination for Teachers Secondary Schools Level. It also got a 90.1 percent passing rate compared to the low 25.46 percent national passing rate.

The university deserves all the greetings we can garner as we can only encourage academic institutions in Davao City to produce only quality graduates, especially because the city is now at the center of the world attention and this is the time for all sectors to be at their best, not just to show off but to gather favorable interest that brings in greater progress. Much like marketing, but better.

We can only take pride in how UM has consistently produced quality graduates, a testimony to how investing in quality education not just produces top-performing graduates but moreso builds an institution that withstands the years and challenges posed by an ever-growing competition and changes in the market demand.

Kudos to the faculty and staff who are making this possible. And for the 2017 March LET, congratulations to Marian Kaye Fortinez Gallego, a Bachelor in Secondary Education major in Mathematics, who with her score of 92.80 percent outranked all 72,584 exam takers.

Congratulations, too, to the other topnotchers, Gerlie Tampos Albia of UM-Digos College who garnered 91.4 percent for the 5th place; Rosa Mae Asaytona Salazar and Chrestine Bariquit Torrejos from UM-Main with 91.2 percent to share 6th place; Leslae Kay Cataytay Mantilla with 91 percent for 7th place; Kristine Clarisse Cabante Planas with 90.6 percent for 8th place; and Mark John Tayong Pepito with 90.4 percent for ninth place.

That the students themselves are persevering and topping their classes is a testimony to the continued pursuit for excellence among the young people in Davao.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," said world-revered leader Nelson Mandela. Just imagine the power of quality education.

The challenge now is to sustain or to surpass what has been achieved, and the challenge goes not just to the students but also to the teachers and the school administrations. A new level has been achieved, the par for the course has just been reset.

Now, it's up to everyone to break the record.