Students told: Change schools

Students of Mandaue City College (MCC) under Dr. Paulus Cañete who are pursuing degrees with board examinations have to transfer to a Commission on Higher Education-recognized school.

MCC graduates “from board courses or programs shall not be allowed to take any licensure examination,” said Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Ched chairperson in a letter dated July 4.

By virtue of Ched en banc Resolution No. 163-2011, Licuanan wrote a letter informing the public that the college has no legal personality to operate and lacks government recognition.

The college, which has 1,200 undergraduate and 800 graduate school students, is deemed to be offering higher education programs and holding educational activities illegally, she said.

“Dr. Paulus Cañete is continuously and illegally defying the closure order of the Commission dated Dec. 3, 2010, by establishing higher education institutions without legal basis.”

Licuanan said her letter covers the college’s campuses in barangays Tipolo and Jagobiao, Mandaue City and extension schools in the towns of Isabel, Merida and Villaba in Leyte province.

She warned school authorities to submit to Ched and secure government permits in accordance with Ched rules and regulations.

Cañete told Cebu Daily News that Ched “should present first a court order before demanding for our school’s closure.

“They will continue to chase us but we continue to grow every day and we are joyful about this,” he said.

Cañete said eight of their graduates passed the recent Licensure Examination for Teachers.

Ten more have applied to take the teachers’ board exam this September.

“It’s not our fault if students enroll in our school,” Cañete said.

Advertisements of the Mandaue City College under Cañete boast of its continuing operations even without financial support from the local government unit.

The Mandaue City government and Ched recognize as legitimate only the Mandaue City College headed by Dr. Susana Cabahug.