NEWS” NDC-Tagum execs declared persona non grata

Because of controversy, NDC nursing grads cannot take Nov. 30 exam anymore

nov 11

Four top officials of the controversy-wracked North Davao College Tagum Foundation Inc. were declared by the Tagum City Council after a lengthy question hour portion attended by some school and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials in  yesterday’s sanggunian session.

Declared persona non grata in the city council’s Resolution No. 534 were Dr. Anita Somoso, NDC-Tagum school president, Dr. Roberto Palec, dean of college of nursing, nurse Ms. Rosie Jay Rom, assistant dean, and Lida Natavio, school administrator.

Somoso was not present in yesterday’s session.

Dr. Palec was largely unmoved though at times put in precarious situation in defending his school to the several allegations posed by lead proponent Councilor Joey Millan.

Palec debunked allegations that they were into money-making activities in collecting P10,000 review fee and P7,500 mock board examination fee from their nursing graduates before school credentials could be released to them.

But present councilors after hearing the side of several NDC-Tagum officials were still unconvinced and made true approving their last week’s seven resolutions censuring the school and its officials with only insignificant amendments.

Also approved by all members present were Resolution No. 535 demanding to NDC-Tagum to release the school credentials of the affected nursing graduates, Resolution No. 536 demanding for the refund of the collected sum from the P10,000 review fee and P7,500 mock board exam fee, Resolution No. 537 urging CHED to investigate the alleged 20-percent interest charged on late payments on financial obligations of the nursing graduates, Resolution No. 538 urging CHED for the non-renewal of the school’s permit to operate as nursing school, and Resolution No. 539 manifesting the city government’s stand never again to enter into contract of affiliation with NDC-Tagum.

The city council  amended to approve the last Resolution No. 540 urging the city mayor to revoke the NDC-Tagum’s business permit to operate a nursing  course only from a business to operate as an entire school following debate between Councilor Millan and Councilor Rey Salve.

Salve contended that it was still premature to censure the school entirely with the proposed resolution, citing that the lower year nursing students and other courses might be affected which would result to transfers to other schools or closure of the school.

Millan however contended that the resolution was only an expression of sentiment of the body following tedious five sessions of deliberating the issues. He subsequently agreed for amendment after Vice Mayor Allan Rellon called for on-recess caucus attended by him.

During the question hour where Dr. Palec was the one always grilled by Millan, the gallery was filled of nursing graduates and their parents and several faculty members of the school.

Millan reminded present school officials on the standing CHED Memorandum Circular No. 13, series of 2006 which prohibits schools to force their students to take up review classes to schools not of their own choice and to withhold credentials after being cleared of all academic and financial obligations.

Palec denied charges that they were forcing the graduates to take the in-house nursing review and the mock board exams and the withholding the graduates’ credentials saying that they have only school’s requirements and obligations to satisfy.

He denied forcing the graduates to take the in-house nursing review and mock board requirements which he said have been implemented in the school for three years now, drawing some heckles from the gallery.

But Palec immediately shot back to those in the gallery not to make disturbance during the question hour saying “it’s against the law”.

He added that they made the review in house with Kaplan Review Center as the school’s choice saying that “it somehow gives them the confidence in the school … that (the graduates) can pass the board exams”, adding that they also noted of the strict requirement of the Professional Regulation Commission of closing nursing schools based on the failing rate of graduates.

CHED OIC regional officer Eduard Aquino, on the other hand, said that his office has made efforts in negotiating with school officials to release the graduates’ credentials but the latter was insistent of enforcing their own school policies.

He informed that NDC-Tagum officials had “committed lapses” contrary to CHED policies.

Aquino though said that CHED lawyers would be coming this week to investigate the case and make “final word” on the matter.

Both Palec and the school human resource director Evelyn Dismas said respectively they made “shortcomings” and “lapses” in informing the graduates’ parents.

For the several allegations, Palec dared graduates to go to court to settle the issues.

On his parting shot, Palec said that they may release the graduates’ credentials with notation “for employment purposes” and not “for board exams” unless the fees for nursing review and mock board exams are paid.

He implied however that the school officials would still meet to study on whether to refund the fees or not.

Because of the controversy, at least 52 nursing graduates of the school are sure they could no longer take the slated Nov. 30 nursing board exams since their credentials were already withheld for not paying the said fees and as the deadline of application to take the board exam already lapsed a month ago.

It was learned that some 208 nursing students graduates from NDC-Tagum last March and unaccounted number of whom had resorted to executing promissory notes with the school for the contended fees in order to secure school credentials needed for the board exams.

Also present yesterday were Councilors Allan Zulueta, De Karlo “Oyo”, Nicandro “Nickel” Suaybaguio, Mylene Baura, Joedel Caasi, Vicente “Enting” Eliot Sr. and Robert “Tete” So. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com