Retake in nursing exams looms as PRC is transferred to DoLE

By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
Last updated 05:04pm (Mla time) 09/27/2006

AS the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) becomes an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), a retake of the June 2006 nursing board exams now becomes a possibility, with the issue to be discussed between the two agencies Thursday, Secretary Arturo Brion said Wednesday.

In an interview with reporters after the Senate budget hearing, Brion said he would meet with PRC officials and discuss the relationship between the two agencies and the issues confronting the PRC, including the question of a retake, which the commission had ruled out.

Asked whether the PRC position could change, Brion said: “Of course, it can change...It is a pending problem and will be part of the agenda [of our meeting] tomorrow [Thursday].”

Even while he recognized PRC's responsibility in administering licensure exams, Brion cited the ongoing investigations by the Senate and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the alleged leak of some test questions before deciding on the matter.

“We still have to see and collate the records. Essentially, the PRC has the responsibility over board exams. We cannot pre-empt the decision before we even meet with the PRC,” he said.
Brion said the DoLE would have “oversight” functions over the commission. “We provide the general direction of PRC.”

Brion said the transfer of PRC to DoLE was contained in Executive Order 565 (not 596 as reported earlier on the site), dated September 2006, but which was presented to him only Tuesday.

The Court of Appeals has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the oath-taking of those who passed the June 2006 nursing board exams amid allegations that portions of Test 3 and Test 5 had been leaked to the examinees.

Only about 17,000 of the 42,000 who took the exam passed after the PRC applied a formula that did not include the leaked questions in the computation of the scores.