Republic of the Philippines
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER (CMO)
No.:___18
Series of 2011
SUBJECT : AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE XI-SANCTIONS OF CMO NO. 14, S. 2009 “POLICIES
AND STANDARDS FOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (BSN) PROGRAM”,
In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, otherwise
known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994,” CEB Resolution No. 158 - 2011, and to further
promote and enhance relevant and quality nursing education in the country, the amendments
to Article XI - Sanctions of CMO 14, s. 2009 on the conduct of monitoring and evaluation of
Higher Education Institutions (hereafter “HEls”) offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN),
the bases for retention and/or phasing-out of nursing programs and corresponding sanctions to
b
posed are hereby adopted and promulgated by the Commission, thus:
ARTICLE|
RATIONALE
The CHED Memorandum Order No. 14 s. 2009 entitled “Policies and Standards for
the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program” was issued in order to attain global
competitiveness and to keep abreast with global standards, fast-paced trends and changing w
needs of society. Article XI - Sanctions of CMO No. 14, s. 2009 provide that, the Commission
shall revoke any government permit/recognition or deny the issuance of authority to
operate nursing program in case of non-compliance by HEIs. Under CMO 14, s. 2009, the
initial implementation of the gradual phase out of the nursing program commences in SY
2013-2014, for HEIs with an average passing percentage of below 30% for a three-year
period (SY 2010-2013) in the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE).
However, due to certain developments that occurred during the period 2009-2010,
the Commission is compelled to review the period of implementation of the gradual phasing
out of nursing program under Article XI-Sanctions. Pursuant to its mandate and authority
under R.A. 7722, CHED has initiated amendment to Article XI-Sanctions of CMO No.14, s.
2009 “Policies and Standards for Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) Program.”
The results of the PNLE has shown a dwindling and disturbing decline in the national
passing percentage indicating that the quality of nursing education has suffered some
setback. To date, the result of the latest PNLE shows a very low rating of 35.25%, the lowest
recorded from 2006 to present. Further, data of the Department of Labor and Employment
show that there is a massive surplus of nursing graduates numbering approximately
280,000, most of whom are currently unemployed/underemployed. Considering the above
circumstance, the Commission is called upon to exercise its regulatory jurisdiction as the
matter is now imbued with the greatest public interest. The general welfare of the enrolling
Higher Education Development Center Building, C.P. Garcia Ave., UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, eee Sty
Web Site: www.ched.gov.ph Tel. Nos. 441-1177, 385-4391, 441-1169, 441-1149, 441-1170, 441-1216, 392-5296public comprising of parents, students and those providing material support for their
education, are entitled to the protection being currently implemented by the Commission
to ensure that only those schools with compliant nursing programs and satisfactory
performance in the PNLE will be allowed to operate. Thus, Article XI-Sanctions of CMO No.
14 s, 2009 shall be hereby amended for purposes of imposition of sanctions for the reasons
indicated in this CMO taking to account all the foregoing consider
ARTICLE It
AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION
Section 8 of RA 7722, “Powers and Functions of the Commission” defines the powers
and functions thereof, specifically items “d” and “e” as follows:
(d) “Set minimum standards for programs and institutions of higher learning
recommended by panels of experts in the field and subject to public hearing, and
enforce the same.”
(e) “Monitor and evaluate the performance of programs and institutions of higher
learning for appropriate incentives as well as the imposition of sanctions such as,
but not limited to, diminution or withdrawal of subsidy, recommendation on the
downgrading or withdrawal of accreditation, program termination or school
closure.”
The monitoring and evaluation activities to be conducted by the Commission on
Higher Education — Professional Regulation Commission (hereafter “CHED-PRC”) on HEIs
offering the BS Nursing program aims to:
1. Determine the extent of compliance of nursing schools to existing policies and
standards/rules and regulations;
2. Identify possible reasons/causes that contributed to the level of nursing licensure
performance of nursing schools;
3. Gather empirical data for possible CHED policy direction inthe
development/formulation of relevant policies that shall address concerns/problems
affecting the nursing profession in the country; and
4, Recommend to the Commission the appropriate actions to be taken on the nursing
program that are found to be substandard and with low board performance percentage
in the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE).
5. The authority of the CHED-PRC Joint Monitoring Team shall be that provided under CMO
No. 28 s. 2010 entitled “System and Procedures for the Joint CHED-PRC Inspection and
Evaluation of Higher Education Institutions Offering Board Programs”.ARTICLE
POLICIES
‘A. The following shall apply for nursing schools having an average of above 30% passing
percentage for (3) consecutive years (Starting 2008, 2009, 2010 and thereafter), which
shall be monitored starting 2011 and are determined to be non-compliant with the
minimum requirements under CMO No. 30, s. 2001 and CMO No. 14, s. 2009:
1, The minimum requirements set forth under CMO No. 30 s. 2001 (Updated Policies and
Standards for Nursing Education) and CMO No. 14 s. 2009 (Policies and Standards for
Bachelor of Science in Nursing [BSN] Program) that MUST be complied with during the
actual visit/evaluation and implementation of the program include:
a. Dean/Administrator for the Nursing program;
b. Faculty Members vis-a-vis the number of enrolled students satisfying the
required faculty ratio for both classroom and RLE
c. Valid/effective Memorandum of Agreement with qualified Base Hospital and
Affiliating Hospitals/Centers;
d. Nursing Arts Laboratory; and
€. Professional nursing books and subscription to the required local and foreign
nursing journals 4
2. The abovementioned are minimum requirements to operate the BS Nursing program,
hence, failure to comply with ANY ONE (1) of the said requirements as stipulated under
CMO No. 30, s. 2001 and CMO No. 14, s. 2009 within thirty (30) days after the date the
monitoring/inspection was conducted shall subject the HEI concerned to immediate
phase-out/involuntary closure of the Nursing program. In such a case, the concerned
HEI shall be directed to facilitate the transfer of all currently enrolled students to CHED-
recommended and compliant nursing or other academic programs. Likewise, the
concerned CHED Regional Office shall assist in facilitating the said transfer of students.
B. On the other hand, HEls with BS Nursing programs that are found to have an average
passing percentage of 30% and below for a three-year period (starting 2008, 2009,
2010, and thereafter) in the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) shall be
issued orders for immediate phase-out in accordance with the provisions of this CMO.
The concerned HEI shall be directed to facilitate the transfer of all currently enrolled
students to CHED-recommended compliant nursing or other academic programs.
Likewise, the concerned CHED Regional Office shall assist in facilitating the said transfer
of students.
PanARTICLE IV
TRANSITORY PROVISION
The provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232, Chapter 1 particularly Section 69 which
states that "Sanctions against the schools shall be without prejudice to the interest of the
students, teachers and employees” and its pending appeal. Hence, the following are the
guidelines for the affected students:
1. The HEI determined to be non-compliant with CMO No. 30, s. 2001 and CMO No. 14.
s. 2009 shall be issued an order for immediate phase-out and shall not accept
enrollees in the second semester of SY 2011-2012, and subsequent school-years
thereafter except for qualified graduating 4" year students.
2. The HEI shall be ordered to transfer its 1%, 2" and 3" year nursing students
including irregular 4" year students in the second semester of SY 2011 - 2012 to
another HE! with a CHED-recognized and compliant nursing program, upon the
choice of the student/s being transferred, and subject to the admission policies of
the HEI where the student will be transferred, The concerned CHED Regional Office
shall either assist the students of good standing in transferring to another CHED-
recognized compliant nursing school, subject to the stated conditions, or encourage
the students to shift to another CHED-recognized compliant program offered by
their institution.
3. For HEls that are issued immediate phase-out orders, these shall be allowed to VY
continue offering the program only until March or Summer 2012, for the purpose of
allowing all the qualified graduating 4” year students to finish their BS Nursing
degree. The President/Head of the HEI shall execute a notarized undertaking that
their operations within the allotted period shall be for this sole purpose. The CHED
Regional Office shall be responsible for strictly monitoring the operation of the
nursing program of HEls falling under this category and immediately report any
Violation of its undertaking to the Commission through the Office the Executive
Director. Appropriate sanctions shall be imposed for violations under this provision
4. HEls not affected by the phase out shall be encouraged to accept the 1", 2 and 3”
year students and irregular 4" year students of the HEI with non-compliant nursing
programs, and to credit the earned units of the students from their previous schools.
5. Phase-out conducted pursuant to this CMO shall be as prescribed in Section 61,
paragraph 3 of the MORPHE, provided that the effectivity thereof shall be
accordance with the provisions of this Article. The Order to phase-out the BS Nursing
program shall be immediately executory. The HEI concerned shall be entitled to file
fone (1) motion for reconsideration stating therein the grounds thereof and its
response to the specific adverse findings that led to the phase-out, within (5) days
from receipt of the Order of phase-out. The decision of the Commission thereafter
shall be final.
4ARTICLE V
SANCTIONS
Article XI-Sanctions under CMO No. 14 s. 2009 stipulates that non-compliance with
the provisions of the CMO shall, after due process, cause the Commission to revoke
government permit/recognition or deny issuance of authority to operate the nursing
program. Considering the rationale of the Commission in issuing these new guidelines, the
implementation of sanctions under Article XI of CMO No. 14 s. 2009 is hereby amended, to
read:
Effective 2011, nursing programs of HEIs whose average
passing percentage in the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination
(NLE) is 30% and below for three (3) consecutive examination years
(starting 2008, 2009, 2010, and thereafter) shall be immediately
phased-out.
For nursing programs of HEls whose average passing
percentage in the (NLE) is above 30% for a three-year period + WV
(starting 2008, 2009, 2010, and thereafter), and determined to be
non-compliant, the phase-out shall be implemented by the CHED
effective SY 2011 - 2012, based on the following conditions:
1. The performance of the school shall be based upon the
average passing percentage in the NLE obtained within
@ year. If the school has only one examination
undertaken in a year, this shall be considered the
annual rating.
2. The three-year average percentage in the NLE that will
be utilized for purposes of Article lt paragraph B shall
be the average of the ratings obtained by the HEls for
three consecutive years.
3. The computation of the passing percentage in the NLE shail
only involve the ratings of the examinees who took the NLE
{for the first time.
4%
0hARTICLE VI
SEPARABILITY AND REPEALING CLAUSE
The other provisions of CMO No. 30, s. 2001 and CMO No. 14, s. 2009 not otherwise
inconsistent herewith shall remain in force and effect.
All CHED issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the
provisions of this CMO are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
ARTICLE VIL
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE +yY
This CMO shall take effect and shall apply to both public and private HEIs as mandated
under CMO 30 s. 2008, fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a
newspaper of general circulation.
Quezon City, Philippines, Iuly_29, 2044
Zax z L-
PATRICIA B. LICUANAN, Ph.D.
Chairperson