DESPITE the success of their other programs in the board, the College of Education and the Faculty of Engineering have been experiencing significant passing percentage decreases in the Nutrition and Chemical Engineering licensure exams.
From 2000 to 2004, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Electronics and Communications Engineering registered high passing rates. The four programs had average passing rates of 89.66 per cent, 89.48 per cent, 92.78 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively.
Chemical Engineering (ChE), however, has only averaged a 52 per cent passing rate for the past five years. PRC records showed that the lowest output was in 2002 where the passing percentage plunged to 41.30 per cent. Engineering Dean Marilyn Mabini attributes this to a “national trend.”
“The relatively low passing percentage in the ChE licensure examinations is also true for other engineering schools. In fact, this issue was raised when I attended an engineering seminar last year in U.P.,” Mabini told the Varsitarian. “Admittedly, the change in the PRC examination format from problem-solving to multiple choice type is a major consideration here.”
According to Mabini, the problem-solving format differs from the multiple choice format in terms of credit or points given.
“In the problem-solving type of exam, examinees are required to present their solutions to each problem. Even if they do not arrive at the correct answer, they are still given points for presenting their solutions, whereas in the multiple-choice type, only the final answer is given credit,” she said.
Mabini said the ChE department is drawing solutions to the problem.
“We give mock exams to the students before the board. This has really helped the students a lot and somehow gives them a clear picture of what the board examinations will be like,” Mabini said.
Nutrition, on the other hand, started high at 90.54 percent in 2000 but has been on a down-swing since, registering a 68.18% percent passing rate in the 2004 board.
Like Mabini, Education Dean Arcangel attributes the decline to a national trend.
But she said no drastic changes in the Education program are in the offing.
“So far the college has been doing well and I see no other reason why this year is any different from other years,” she said.
