The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) concluded its first day of physical college entrance test on Sunday, January 28, after being postponed for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with the media, PUP President Manuel Muhi said there were over 100,000 applicants for this year’s PUPCET, with 20,160 students taking the exam on its first day.
University Security and Safety Office Director Artemus Cruz detailed that 144 classrooms in the Main Building were utilized as testing rooms, allocating 35 exam takers to each room.
According to President Muhi, the 2024 PUPCET was one year in the making, especially as the questionnaire had to be updated.
He also stated that the university will keep its acceptance rate despite budget cut concerns.
“Actually, hindi naman na-cut-an ng budget ang PUP. Hindi lang siya nadagdagan… ‘yong budget natin last year is halos ‘yun din ang budget natin ngayon. Pero kailangan ng additional [budget] because merong mga locally funded na campuses… na naging part ng General Appropriations Act, pero it was not enough, ‘yong binigay na budget,” President Muhi explained.
President Muhi added that PUP Sta. Mesa will continue to accept 12,000 students since it is sufficient for the university’s total capacity and classrooms. “Hindi naman mababawasan ‘yong number of students na ia-accept natin. Kung nag-a-accept tayo ng 12,000 every year, ‘yun pa rin naman ‘yon,” he asserted.
On the other hand, among the factors that did not change in the application process were online technical issues.
“Hindi ko ma-open ‘yong account na ginamit ko. [Ang lumalabas] invalid credentials. So, ang nangyari wala po akong e-permit. So, ngayon po nagbabaka sakali lang sa office if pwede magtanong [ng possible solutions],” Abeliene Rose Tuballas, an examinee shared their sentiments.
Other applicants also aired their concerns through a Facebook group dedicated to college admission preparations.
Some received e-permits with missing information, such as examination date, time, room assignment, or mismatched details, while other applicants did not receive their e-permits even after the exam’s first day.
Meanwhile, when asked about updates on Senate Bill 2448, or the “National Polytechnic University (NPU) Bill,” which aims to elevate PUP’s status, President Muhi said there are no updates yet aside from its approval on the senate level in November 2023, and later claimed there is no truth in the possible reinstatement of tuition fees.
“‘Yong sa NPU, wala namang nababalita na magtataas ng tuition fee, hindi naman totoo ‘yun,” he said.
About concerns when the bill was initially introduced, it stipulates in Section 7, paragraph D, that the Board of Regents (BOR) has the power to impose fees such as but not limited to matriculation, graduation, and laboratory fees, should it be deemed proper.
Article: Kenneth Teston
Graphics: Yuko Shimomura
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