No grade inflation, just new teaching methods, says UP Chancellor

University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan took on the issue of grade inflation at the school's 104th general commencement exercises on Sunday as he praised Tiffany Grace Uy, the graduating student who earned the university's highest grade record in almost nine decades.

Uy, a BS Biology student who graduated summa cum laude on Sunday, earned a weighted average grade (WAG) of 1.004, besting the 1.016 recorded by John Gabriel Pelias, a BS Mathematics graduate, in 2011. It is the highest WAG recorded at UP since Exequiel Sevilla's 1.000 way back in 1927.

"I know people will say again, isn't that grade inflation? I will argue otherwise, together with academic experts. We know we have more summa cum laudes because we have new teaching methodologies," Tan said.

"Our 'terror professors' have mostly retired, mostly," he added.

The Diliman chancellor said the university takes this year's number of summa cum laude graduates as "a mark of success."

"We have moved away from memorization of content towards processes, towards mentors who nurture students who want to become cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude. We encourage you to excel," Tan said.

Of the 4,441 graduates from the 27 different colleges, 29 graduated with summa cum laude honors.

Sociology professor Gerardo Lanuza earlier drew flak from netizens after he posted a series of rants in his Facebook account about the "obsession" of UP students on their grades.

"Hindi dahil naka uno [1.0] ka sa lahat halos ng klase mo sa UP Diliman ay "matalino" ka na! Ang ibig sabihin lang nyan ay: masipag kang gumawa ng reaction papers kahit di required, mabait ka sa klase, di mo inaway ang teachers mo, di ka sumama sa walkouts laban sa TOFI kaya wala kang absences, pati diarrhea mo ng isang araw ginawan mo pa ng medical certificate para ma-excuse ka, nabili mo lahat ng requirements at books at matyaga kang nagpaxerox," he said.

"Now, tell me: by doing those things made you intelligent? Not necessarily. Intelligence means what you do when everything that you know become useless! In short, you're a worthy puppy of your parents! Pagawa ka na ng tarp sa harap ng bahay nyo para complete na! But when I see that tarp, I have to ask: "FOR WHAT AND FOR WHOM ARE YOU DOING THOSE THINGS FOR?" Lanuza added.

Lanuza then clarified that he was not referring to Uy or to any particular student for that matter.

"Congrats, iska! I have no bitterness against you! My posts were directed at all students who think that grades are the be-all and end- all of life and education!" he said. — BM, GMA News