Rep. Joseph Santiago has urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to grade all colleges and universities nationwide based on the performance of their graduates in professional licensure and eligibility tests, and to put the ratings in the newspapers for all to see.
"The CHED should rate each school based on the average performance of their graduates in all licensure and eligibility tests. Then the ratings should be published in detail every semester. This will go a long way in helping parents decide to which school they should send their children," Santiago said.
"This is a surefire way to check the spread of substandard schools. Once properly informed, parents will stop patronizing flunky schools. And these inferior schools will be forced to either improve the quality of the training they provide, or simply close shop," Santiago pointed out.
Santiago said the CHED should promptly close down deteriorated schools whose graduates fail miserably in licensure and eligibility tests.
"Schools that cannot effectively provide adequate instruction to students are robbing families of hard-earned money paid for matriculation fees, and stealing the hopes and dreams of parents for good-quality education for their children," Santiago said.
Last week, the CHED said it has fast-tracked the countrywide inspection of colleges and universities suspected of fly-by-night operations, with the end in view of closing them down ahead of the start of the new school year next month.
Santiago, meanwhile, backed the proposal for the CHED to screen and approve school advertisements.
A senator had proposed a scheme that would encourage schools to voluntarily seek prior screening and approval of their commercials by the CHED in order to promote "truth in advertising" in the education sector.
Professional Regulation Commission statistics show that over the last five years, the average passing ate across 33 professional fields requiring licensure or eligibility examinations was only 45 percent.
