PostHeaderIcon Nursing board exam draws 95,282 examinees



On November 29 & 30, 2009, a record of 95,282 nursing graduates will take the board examination to be given by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). By far this is the highest number of test-takers---- exceeding the 88,469 who took the PRC licensure exam last year. After many schools opened, a surplus of nurses developed---- pushing thousands of nurses in the ranks of the jobless and the underemployed.

Marco Antonio Sto. Tomas, a member of the Board of Nursing noted the sharp increase of nurses as more schools offered the course. The schools took advantage of the recruitment of health professionals abroad. The demand however was not sustained to provide jobs. From the almost 8,000 nursing graduates who sought employment after taking the 2003 licensure test, the examinees (potential workseekers) ballooned to almost 100,000 this year.

According to Sto. Tomas, in spite of the minimum competency tested in the board exam, thousands of candidates fail. Only about half of the examinees get licensed, prompting educators to suggest reforming the conduct of the course and closure of substandard colleges.

"The biggest number of examinees will come from Metro Manila (40,621 first-timers, 33 conditioned); Baguio (14,102 first-timers, 7 conditioned); Cebu (8,899 first-timers, 5 conditioned); Cagayan De Oro (3,045 first-timers, 2 conditioned); Davao (8,143 first-timers, 2 conditioned); Iloilo (6,020); Legaspi (3,070 first-timers, 1 conditioned); Lucena (3,444); Tacloban (1,145); Tuguegarao (2,322 first-timers, 1 conditioned); Zamboanga (1,609); Jolo (166); Pagadian (1,568); Angeles (179); and Butuan (898)." ---Inquirer (11/15/09, Uy, V.)

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) says certain schools do not meet the standards. In the last five years, at least 177 schools have not produced a single graduate who took and passed the board exam. Such dismal performance points to a serious flaw in education and a waste of precious labor. (Photo Credit: SlavishTubeSocks) =0=

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