Outstanding Metrobank teachers reject nursing exam retake

A spot survey among Metrobank’s 10 Outstanding Teachers shows that most of them are against a retake of the June nursing licensure examinations, which were tainted by the alleged leakage of test questions.

The STAR decided to poll the teachers because it is within the classrooms that first attempts at cheating usually take place, and in the teachers’ hands usually lie the responsibility of censuring those caught cheating.

Of the 10 teachers polled, five said they were opposed to a retake; three said they were for a retake and two said they believed in a selective retake of the exams.

"It is the government’s job to run after the culprits but not punish the innocent," said Ruth Lebes-Gelveson of the West Visayas State University in La Paz, Iloilo City. She is a science teacher and has been teaching for the past 17 years.

Her sentiments were echoed by Isabel Eman of the San Policarpo National High School in Calbayog City and Soledad Roguel of the Central Luzon State University in Nueva Ecija, who stressed: "Why punish the students? They should go after the members of the nursing board who leaked the test (questions)."

"Blame those who were responsible for the examination," was the sentiment of Ofelia Loñoza of the Lucena North Elementary School. Olivia Caling of the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Manila said, "Let the culprits be punished; so why let everybody suffer for it?"

On the other hand, three teachers, two of them college professors, were foursquare behind a retake.

"As teachers, we do not tolerate cheating. We understand the logistical difficulty of a retake, but it is a way to preserve the integrity of the exam. Besides those who are qualified will pass a retake while those who cheated can be weeded out," said history professor Ambeth Ocampo of the Ateneo de Manila University.

UP Manila professor Dr. Raquel del Rosario Fortun, who specializes in forensic pathology, said, "Those responsible should be held accountable. No sweeping under the rug, like what we Filipinos often do. There is no way around the fact that the results are now tainted, even for those who did not participate in or benefit from the alleged cheating."

Gelly Alkuino of the National High School of Metro Dadiangas in General Santos City believes a retake is necessary "to erase the cloud of doubt that they only passed because they received the test leakage. They have to prove beyond reasonable doubt through retaking the nursing exam that they are really deserving of the title ‘Registered Nurse.’"

Two teachers, Evelyn Kimpo of Banga Elementary School in Aklan and Editha Banguilan of Cabagan Science Elementary School in Isabela were for a selective retake of the exam.

"Examineees who attended the review in centers suspected to have (benefited) from the leakage should retake the test," Banguilan said.

"I think only those concerned should be made to undergo a test retake," said Kimpo.

Each winner of the 2006 Search for Outstanding Teachers of the Metrobank Foundation Inc. gets P250,000 in cash, a gold medallion and a trophy.

The search is a brainchild of Dr. George S.K. Ty, chairman of Metrobank and the Metrobank Foundation. He launched the search in 1985, after being disheartened by the sight of the country’s mentors marching in the streets to stress the need for better pay and working conditions.

The winners of the search paid a courtesy call on STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte yesterday. They were accompanied by Metrobank Foundation executive director Aniceto Sobrepeña and executive vice president Elvira Ong Chan.

The winners of the search will be presented to President Arroyo at Malacañang today, Sobrepeña said.