Dumaguete college still in operation

May we clarify a news report carried by the Inquirer, specifically regarding the closure of Asian College of Science and Technology-Dumaguete Campus (“‘Worst’ teacher schools named; closure urged,” News, 3/19/14).

Asian College of Science and Technology-Dumaguete voluntarily closed its BS Education program after a brief one-year offering—as part of its institutional realignment. We formally informed the Commission on Higher Education that we would no longer

accept enrollees for Bachelor of Secondary Education starting school year 2012-2013.

Therefore, in connection with the Licensure Exams for Teachers (LET), our institution never had “attempts”—much less, failures—contrary to what was reported by the Inquirer. We also would want to make it clear to Inquirer readers that Asian College of Science and Technology has not ceased operations or closed its campus; the school continues to provide quality education, especially in the fields where it has expertise.

—RESTIE R. CONCEPCION,

marketing director,

Asian College of Science

and Technology

I would like to thank Concepcion for the clarification. Our story was based on a study conducted by the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) which noted that two elementary education graduates of Asian College of Science and Technology-Dumaguete took the LET—one in September 2011, and the other in March 2012. Both failed to pass.

—DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN,

reporter, Inquirer

* * *

The PBEd study on the performance of schools in the LET was based on raw data obtained from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education.

It may be noted that not all the LET takers are education degree holders. Some of them finished only an 18-unit program for non-BS Education graduates who want to teach. Called “teacher certification,” the program allows these college graduates to take the LET.

However, the PRC does not record the institution where the non-BS Education takers took the teacher certification course. It only records the school where the non-BS Education taker finished her undergraduate course. This has led to the inclusion of schools that do not offer BS Education programs in the PRC’s LET results.

Thus, one of the limitations of our study is attributed to the PRC’s system of keeping records on LET takers. And this is one of the weaknesses found in the administration and reporting of LET results.

We, therefore, reiterate our recommendation for the PRC to revise the LET application form in such a way that it would provide information on the applicants’ undergraduate degrees, where these were taken, and whether they finished a BS Education program or teacher certification—for better performance monitoring and data management.

—DIANE I. FAJARDO, project manager for teacher quality,

Philippine Business  for Education, Legaspi Village, Makati City