- Advertisement -

By URIEL C. QUILINGUING
Contributing editor .

LACK of full-time and qualified instructors, no school sites, and low performances in state examinations are among the reasons for the closure of seven Misamis Oriental-based Bukidnon State University (Buksu) external studies centers, according to one school principal Friday.

- Advertisement -

Principal Reynaldo Cabillan of Alubijid National High School, said seven of Buksu’s external studies centers will be closed this school year, hence will no longer accept enrollees. The Alubijid school is one of four Buksu external studies centers in Misamis Oriental that will continue to accept enrollees for the August opening of classes.

The seven are the Buksu external studies centers in Kinoguitan, Libertad, Magsaysay, Manticao, and Salay as well as that of Gingoog City and Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (Mogchs) which is in Cagayan de Oro City.  

Mogchs principal Dr. Pedro Estaño Jr. confirmed that the Buksu external studies center in his school will no longer accept students for this school year.

The closure order was issued by the Commission on Higher Education through Ched Resolution No. 097-2018 and Ched Implementing Order that was issued May 29, 2018. Ched deputy executive director Napoleon Imperial signed the Order. 

“Most of them are working students who attend classes from 5 to 9 pm. So they are type of students who will be affected by the closure,” Estaño said.

He said Buksu external studies center students, about 400 of them every school year since 1983, occupy 10 classrooms of Mogchs, and their instructors are on part-time status, though highly qualified since most of them are from Department of Education division and regional offices.    

Unlike Mogchs and six others, Cabillan said Buksu external studies center in Alubijid has full-time qualified instructors and a school site where a building is currently being constructed, hence the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) allowed it to continue operating.

“Classes will be from 8 am to 5 pm, and these will be at Alubijid Central School, for the meantime,” Cabillan said, hinting that the municipal government may eventually convert Buksu’s external studies center into a local government-managed community college.

“No more evening classes,” he added.

He, however, maintained that Alubijid’s external studies center is under Buksu’s supervision and that enrolment for freshmen and sophomores have started.

Three other Buksu external studies centers that will stay are those in Medina, Sugbongcogon, and Talisayan towns since these are compliant with the Ched requirements.

Cabillan said Ched’s recommendations are for the external studies centers to operate must comply with standards, a permanent school site, full-time and qualified teachers for tertiary education, and must have been performing well in the licensure examinations for teachers in elementary and secondary.

Buksu’s core competence, more particularly the main campus in Malaybalay City,  is in education courses and all external studies centers in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and other parts of Mindanao offer education, among other course offerings.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -