DOLE: Nursing schools finalizing exams retake

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion met with deans and officials of "centers of excellence" schools Saturday to finalize arrangements for review courses for those retaking the June 2006 exams. Radio dzBB reported that Brion held a closed-door meeting with the school officials to discuss the review courses. It said Brion was likely to disclose to media Saturday afternoon the results of the meeting with the school officials. The labor department started finalizing this month preparations for the retake of Tests 3 and 5 in the June 2006 nursing exam. Brion also hastened to reassure the 17,000 passers of the June 2006 exam that they will still keep their licenses even if they flunk the retake. He stressed the retake will be voluntary, and will cover only Tests 3 and 5, which were tainted by a leakage scandal last year. Last March 6, Malacañang bowed to the position of the CGFNS, which insisted that successful examinees in the June 2006 exam retake Tests 3 and 5 to qualify for VisaScreen certificates. Brion said that with Malacañang's position, his department is now focusing on 'helping' the June 2006 examinees who wish to retake the exam, either this June or December. He said one of the initial steps he has taken is to talk to the deans of some 20 "centers of excellence" that will offer review courses. "Ang review natin aalagaan. Ito ay sa nursing schools na centers of excellence, pumili na tayo ng 20 iskwelahan. Ngayon ay makikipag-final na usap sa deans ng iskwela na ito upang ang sistema ng review magawa na natin," he said in an earlier interview on dzXL radio. (We will take care of the review at the nursing centers of excellence. We have selected 20 schools and I am talking to their deans to finalize the arrangements.) Brion said he has also recommended that the government waive the examination fee and give other forms of assistance to the June 2006 examinees in their review. Beyond these, however, he said those who want to retake Tests 3 and 5 will have to go through the regular processes through the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). He added the PRC's Board of Nursing will prepare the exam questions and check the papers. The only difference, he said, is that the results of the retaken exams will be brought to his department instead of the PRC. - GMANews.TV