Next CHED chief a politician?

After being led by a number of priests, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may soon be run by a politician.

Two former politicians lead the list of candidates for the position of new CHED chair.

Executive director Julito Vitriolo said Malacañang is eyeing former representative Eduardo Nachura and former senator Orlando Mercardo to replace Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, who resigned recently.

The two other candidates for the position also come from a secular background — Philippine Normal University (PNU) president Nilo Rosas and CHED director Rolando Padua.

Interviewed by The STAR, Vitriolo said a former politician could help ease the commission’s relations with Congress.

"Basically we need somebody who could enhance CHED’s capability," he said.

Before he resigned, De la Rosa was reportedly unhappy over the way some politicians were pressuring CHED officials not to close down substandard nursing schools.

The commission had earlier ordered 23 institutions to stop offering nursing programs because of their failure to comply with CHED requirements. — Sandy Araneta