Post by The Main Man on Jul 20, 2006 5:00:45 GMT 8
Another cheating scandal
The Philippine Star 07/20/2006
The government should speed up its investigation of reports that questions were leaked during the latest nursing board examination. The country cannot afford to have the integrity of its professional licensure examinations under a cloud of doubt. Allegations of cheating in the nursing board exam can also raise questions about the results of licensure tests in other professions especially those related to medical services.
It’s not the first time that allegations of cheating have marred professional licensure exams. Similar scandals have hit the bar exams and the medical board examinations. Competition for prestige among colleges and universities and even among fraternities has been blamed for cheating scandals in the past years. Suspicions are often raised when graduates of little-known schools top the exams or score higher than graduates of prestigious colleges and universities. Even these prestigious institutions, however, have been tainted by cheating scandals particularly in the bar exams.
School administrators know that good performance by their graduates in professional exams will mean more enrollees. That kind of prestige, however, cannot be sustained through cheating. Substandard training also shows in actual practice. Dissatisfied employers especially overseas can easily replace Filipinos with other foreign workers.
Overseas Filipino workers are prized for their skills and dedication in their respective fields. The country must sustain the reputation of its workforce for exemplary service. This cannot happen if professional licensure examinations are marred by leaked test questions and other forms of cheating. OFWs have already suffered from the handiwork of groups that sell forged college or vocational school diplomas to prospective overseas workers. The country’s workforce is also suffering from the slide in English proficiency, which has driven many foreign investors to countries such as India where there is a bigger pool of bilingual or multilingual workers.
If cheating truly marred the latest nursing board examination, the government must make sure appropriate penalties are imposed. No politician or business interest must be allowed to intervene to let the culprits get away with a mere slap on the wrist. It’s bad enough that allegations of cheating in the elections have plunged the nation into a protracted political crisis. The country cannot afford to let accusations of cheating cast a shadow on the integrity of its workforce.
The Philippine Star 07/20/2006
The government should speed up its investigation of reports that questions were leaked during the latest nursing board examination. The country cannot afford to have the integrity of its professional licensure examinations under a cloud of doubt. Allegations of cheating in the nursing board exam can also raise questions about the results of licensure tests in other professions especially those related to medical services.
It’s not the first time that allegations of cheating have marred professional licensure exams. Similar scandals have hit the bar exams and the medical board examinations. Competition for prestige among colleges and universities and even among fraternities has been blamed for cheating scandals in the past years. Suspicions are often raised when graduates of little-known schools top the exams or score higher than graduates of prestigious colleges and universities. Even these prestigious institutions, however, have been tainted by cheating scandals particularly in the bar exams.
School administrators know that good performance by their graduates in professional exams will mean more enrollees. That kind of prestige, however, cannot be sustained through cheating. Substandard training also shows in actual practice. Dissatisfied employers especially overseas can easily replace Filipinos with other foreign workers.
Overseas Filipino workers are prized for their skills and dedication in their respective fields. The country must sustain the reputation of its workforce for exemplary service. This cannot happen if professional licensure examinations are marred by leaked test questions and other forms of cheating. OFWs have already suffered from the handiwork of groups that sell forged college or vocational school diplomas to prospective overseas workers. The country’s workforce is also suffering from the slide in English proficiency, which has driven many foreign investors to countries such as India where there is a bigger pool of bilingual or multilingual workers.
If cheating truly marred the latest nursing board examination, the government must make sure appropriate penalties are imposed. No politician or business interest must be allowed to intervene to let the culprits get away with a mere slap on the wrist. It’s bad enough that allegations of cheating in the elections have plunged the nation into a protracted political crisis. The country cannot afford to let accusations of cheating cast a shadow on the integrity of its workforce.