CHED allows medical schools to admit students who have not taken NMAT

Medical schools have been authorized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to admit students who were unable to take the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) following its postponement.

According to CHED, this is subject to the medical school's regular admission requirements and is only applicable for AY 2020-2021 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

At present, 56 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country are authorized to offer the doctor of medicine program.

“The Commission, in its en banc meeting on June 30, responded to the call of many students who want to pursue their medical education but were not able to take the NMAT which is required for admission to medical school due to the current health crisis,” CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said.

He said the decision was made after several parents and students expressed concern over proceeding into the medical program without the NMAT.

NMAT is a "standardized test designed to upgrade the selection of applicants seeking admission to Philippine medical schools."

Data from the Center for Educational Measurement showed there are around 9,000 registered applicants for the examination.

The CEM failed to administer the NMAT last March 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the imposition of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and other areas in the country.—AOL, GMA News