CSC revises policy on honor eligibility

by Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional office here has urged universities and colleges in the Bicol region to be accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in order for their honor graduates to be granted with eligibility to work in the government for first and second level positions.

CSC 5 Public Assistance and Liaison Division (PALD) acting chief Sharon Flores said during the Ugnayan sa Bikol radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here, said the commission has issued the recommendation following the issuance of revised policies on the grant of Honor Graduate Eligibility (HGE).

Flores stressed that the revised policy intends to uphold, preserve and safeguard the integrity, credibility, and intent of the HGE which specifies that the honor graduate must complete their degrees from colleges and universities of good standing.

Previously under Pres. Decree 907, the commission grants eligibility for all summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude graduates from any school regardless of the number of years of completion from school year 1972-73 and thereafter.

Revisions, however, in the said policy have been implemented effective November 23 this year.

“Under the new policy, the school must first be accredited by CHED, requiring the academic institution to have Level III or IV accreditation status for both state and local state universities and colleges,” Flores explained.

CHED is mandated by the government to set and enforce minimum standards for programmes and institutions of higher learning and at the same time, monitor and evaluate their performance.

In the Bicol region, according to Flores, only Bicol University (BU), Catanduanes State University (CSU) and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) have said accreditation, however, with still only a number of courses that qualify an honor graduate to avail of the HE.

For BU, graduates with degrees in Nursing, Industrial Teacher Education, Elementary or Secondary Teacher Education and Fisheries are the only qualified applicants for the said grant.

For CSu in Virac Catanduanes, degrees with Level III accreditation status are Elementary and Secondary Teacher Education, AB Economics, AB Political Science, Industrial Technology and Nursing.

Also qualified for CBSUA in Pili Camarines Sur are graduates of Elementary and Secondary Teacher Education, Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering from CBSUA in Pili Camarines Sur.

Likewise included in the new policy is the discontinued grant of eligibility for honor graduates of master’s and doctorate degrees and honors or distinctions for Bachelor degrees other than the Latin honors of cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude.