UST SLID to third place despite its high passing rate in the recent Medical Technology board examination, while two Thomasians topped the guidance counselors.
The University produced the most number of medical technologists among all schools, with 249 passers out of the 264 examinees. UST’s passing rate slightly went down to 94.32 percent from 94.72 percent last year.
Saint Louis University emerged as this year’s top-performing school, with a passing rate of 100 percent from only 60 examinees. It was followed by Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, with 95.16 percent or 59 passers out of 62 examinees. San Pedro College-Davao City (85.14 percent) took the fourth spot.
Meanwhile, class 2010 valedictorian and summa cum laude Ma. Cecilia Santos placed sixth in the topnotchers’ list with an average of 89.50 percent, while 2011 cum laude Cherry Rose Reyes (89.20 percent) placed eighth.
Former Varsitarian Science and Technology editor Alena Pias Bantolo also passed the exam.
“Because [the Medical Technology program] got a high passing rate [in the recent board exams], we are now ready to apply for [government recognition as a] center of development,” said Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Priscilla Torres.
Pharmacy got a lower passing rate because of the “repeaters” who did not fare well in the exam, the dean said.
To prepare for next year’s board examination, the faculty plans to offer an in-house review again to “monitor the performance of the reviewees.”
This year’s national passing rate went up to 75.88 from last year’s 71.21 percent.
Meanwhile, two of the four Thomasians who passed the August 2011 Guidance Counselor licensure examinations took the two highest spots in the topnotchers’ list.
The University got an 80-percent passing rate with four first-time passers. One repeater failed. Thomasian psychology graduates Maria Agnes Buquid (85.35 percent) and Stephanie Anne Lu (84.65 percent) placed first and second, respectively.
Out of 249 examinees nationwide, only 125 passed, or 50.20 percent.
As a requirement, examinees must first attain a master’s degree before taking the licensure examination.
Guidance and Counseling Department Director Lucila Bance said the department has a competency committee in-charge of the continuing education program of guidance counselors. The committee review the guidance counselors before the exam. Bernadette D. Nicolas
