Daza hopes PRC follows SC lead, ushers reforms in exams so more students pass

MANILA, Philippines — Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza has again urged the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to reconsider its high passing standards for licensure examinations to ensure inclusivity among several industries that need skilled workers.

Daza in a statement on Tuesday cited the case of the Supreme Court’s recent Bar exams which took a more liberal approach, placing reforms like the digitalization of the examination and the establishment of regional testing sites, which is believed to have helped more students pass the exams.

The lawmaker said he hopes the PRC would emulate these reforms so that more examinees pass their licensure tests.

“I hope that these positive developments encourage the PRC to ramp up the modernization of other licensure exams,” Daza, a lawyer by profession, said.

Out of 9,183 law students who took the Bar exams, 3,992 passed for a success rate of 43.47 percent — relatively higher than the previous years.

READ: SC reduces coverage, shortens duration of 2020/21 bar exams

This is not the first time that Daza prodded the PRC to take proactive measures to make the examinations more inclusive.  In a privilege speech delivered last March 22, he already suggested that alternative routes be provided for students who may fail the examinations.

Daza stressed that the country had a low number of passers in sectors where interested and dedicated workers are needed the most, such as the education and agricultural-related industries:

• 31.56% of examinees for elementary education passed
• 41.25% for secondary education
• 24.36% for certified public accountants
• 33.18% for fisheries technologists
• 36.92% for agriculturists

According to Daza, such a system where more students fail in licensure exams is disadvantageous to poor families who already struggled to send their children to school — only to be restricted by examinations with high requirements.

He then suggested that non-passers be allowed to use another route, like an apprenticeship program where the failing students get the necessary skills for their career path.

Daza said that it is important to balance the maintenance of high standards for Filipino workers and the inclusivity of such procedures.

“Let us, by all means, continue to raise the standard for Filipino skills—but let’s not compromise when it comes to being inclusive,” Daza said.

“We are stewards of the next generation of Filipino talent. We must empower all those who seek to be professionals and serve our country, regardless of social status or physical condition,” he added.

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