Review center elated over findings of PRC panel on nursing exam leakage

The R.A. Gapuz Review Center (RAGRC) in Baguio City expressed elation yesterday over the findings of an investigating panel of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) clearing it of any involvement in the leakage of test questions in the June 2006 licensure examination for nurses.

"The RAGRC is confident that its name will soon be finally cleared and vindicated of any suspicion, thus proving its earlier consistent assertions that it had absolutely no participation in any leakage," the review center said in a statement.

The PRC formed the probe panel after several examinees in Baguio City complained that questions to the board examination last June 11-12 had been leaked to RAGRC’s reviewees.

The committee confirmed that there was, indeed, a leakage of test questions and that they came from the manuscripts of two members of the PRC’s Board of Nursing.

The committee recommended the filing of administrative charges against the two officials whom it refused to identify.

It, however, asked the National Bureau of Investigation to dig deeper into the anomaly.

"Concerned with the plight of the nursing industry and the integrity of the nursing board examination, the RAGRC fully supported and cooperated with the investigation made by the PRC fact-finding committee," the review center said.

The RAGRC said the panel’s finding that there was, indeed, a leakage of questions in Tests III and V was "troubling."

"Nevertheless, the RAGRC supports the commission’s recommendations that administrative charges be filed against those involved and that some questions in Tests III and V be excluded and invalidated," it added.

The RAGRC reiterated that its long record of excellence in nursing reviews is "proof enough of (our) integrity and credibility" and that the probe committee’s findings reaffirmed this.

"The RAGRC expresses its gratitude to its loyal students and reviewees who did not waver in their support for the center and belief in its non-participation in this unfortunate incident," it said. — Sheila Crisostomo, Sandy Araneta