Engineering schools board performance amidst the pandemic

By Dr. Rex Casiple

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Chemical Engineering announced that a total of 321 out of 679 examinees nationwide, or 47.28%, passed in the Chemical Engineer Licensure Examinations given in eight (8) testing centers nationwide in October 2021. Justine Valero Cientos of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod in Bacolod City ranked number 4; and Elizalde Miguel Salazar Flores of UP Visayas ranked number 5 in the said examination for Chemical Engineers. In 34 schools nationwide 302 out of 507, or 51.45% of the first takers passed. Nineteen (19) out of 90 or 21.11% of the re-takers passed.

In the Regional level, two engineering schools in Western Visayas out of 7, or 28.57%, performed high or with a passing percentage higher than that of the national level: one in Iloilo and one in Bacolod City. High-performing engineering schools from the Region with 10 or more examinees are UP-Visayas (70.37% passing) and University of Saint La Salle (50% passing).

The Region produced 62 passers out of 138 takers, or a 44.93% passing percentage. This is lower than that of the national passing percentage. There were 119 first-takers and 19 repeaters who took the said examination. The first takers passing percentage is 47.9%. This is lower than the first takers’ national passing percentage. The repeaters’ passing percentage is 26.32%. This is higher than the repeaters’ national passing percentage.

Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with chemical production and the manufacture of products through chemical processes. In the new curriculum for engineering education, Chemical Engineering is a 4-year baccalaureate degree program. Chemical engineers work in the industry, medicine and in other fields.

On the other hand, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Electrical Engineering announced that a total of 1,668 out of 2,590 examinees nationwide, or 64.4%, passed the Electrical Engineer Licensure Examinations given in twelve (12) testing centers nationwide in September 2021. Jaj Hiponia Sentina of Central Philippine University, Iloilo City ranked number 2 in the said examination for Electrical Engineers. Central Philippine University is the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Center of Development (COD) for Electrical Engineering in Western Visayas. In 172 schools nationwide 1,578 out of 2,163, or 72.95% of the first takers passed. Ninety (90) out of 424, or 21.23%, of the re-takers passed.

In the Regional level, 5 engineering schools in Western Visayas out of 10, or 50%, performed high or with a passing percentage higher than that of the national level: one in Aklan, one in Iloilo City and three in Bacolod City. High-performing engineering schools from the Region are Garcia College of Technology in Kalibo, Aklan, University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod City, Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos in Bacolod City and STI-West Negros University in Bacolod City. The Region produced 62 passers out of 117 takers, or a 52.99% passing percentage. This is lower than that of the national passing percentage. There were 76 first-takers and 38 repeaters who took the said examination. The first takers passing percentage is 72.15%. This is lower than the first takers’ national passing percentage. The repeaters’ passing percentage is 13.16%. Likewise, this is lower than the repeaters’ national passing percentage.

Electrical Engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with electricity-fueled technology. Under the new engineering curriculum, the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) is a 4-year baccalaureate degree program. Skills needed for an electrical engineer include analytical, critical thinking, creativity, interpersonal, mathematics among others.

Generally, the performance of engineering schools in Western Visayas dropped in this time of pandemic.