This was the result of yesterday’s meeting between Labor Secretary Arturo Brion and members of the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN) to help passers who aspire to work in the United States.
Brion said that eight nursing schools recognized as "Centers of Excellence" by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 21 others they "selected" have responded to the "voluntary retake" initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The centers of excellence are the University of the Philippines-Manila (UP-Manila), University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, St. Louis University in Baguio City, St. Paul University Philippines, St. Paul University Iloilo, Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro and San Pedro College in Davao.
"These schools are practically doing this with no profit al all," Brion said at a hastily-called press briefing, adding that the retake is only for the "employability" of the June passers in the US and that they will not be required to surrender their licenses.
The retake is a requirement of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), which conducts the visa screening of health professionals who want to work in the US.
In a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by Brion and ADPCN president Dean Carmelita Divinagracia, the schools will hold special review classes covering the topics included in Tests 3 and 5, which were leaked prior to the examination.
Divinagracia said the retake will "remove all doubts" cast upon the passers of the June 2006 licensure test.
"We’ve agreed to do this to help the government and (June 2006 nursing) graduates pass the licensure exam. This will bring in lost reputation," she said.
UP-Manila College of Nursing Dean Josefina Tuazon, who stood as a witness to the MOA signing, said the retake is also a chance for the Philippines to redeem itself in the nursing profession.
"This will teach us a lesson – that nothing can take the place of our integrity and good name," she said.
Test 3 covers medical and surgical nursing and will entail 40 hours of review classes. Test 5 covers psychiatric nursing and will require 24 hours of review classes.
Brion said the participating schools, "by way of assistance" from the government, will receive P1,200 for each special reviewee they accommodate. He said the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will waive the fee charged for the licensure test.
"Passers can choose not to review or to go to other review classes. It’s up to them," he added.
Under the MOA, "every participating school shall provide the physical facilities, qualified faculty for the special review and computer support for communication and administration purposes during the review."
The registration for the review can be done online at www.specialnursingreview.dole.gov.ph, although manual filing is also being arranged at the participating schools and with the DOLE regional and provincial offices from March 21 to April 4.
Each class will accommodate only 80 to 100 reviewees. The review classes will start on April 16 and end on June 3.
Brion said the special review class is only a one-time offer and the reviewees can take Tests 3 and 5 either in June or December 2007, during the regular licensure test for nursing administered by the PRC.