SOME graduating students of the University of Mindanao raised concerns on  the retaking of their Competency Appraisal examination, saying the delay will compel them to start late for the second semester of Academic Year 2020-2021.

If a student failed the competency exam, he or she was supposed to retake it in January. However, the date was moved to the latter half of February because of internet connectivity problems.

“Nagsisimula na ang ikalawang semestre ng ibang mga estudyante ngunit dahil kailangang mag-retake kaming mga bumagsak sa CA, hahabulin na namin ang mga akademikong gawain sa simula ng ikalawang semester,” the students, belonging to the College of Engineering, College of Architecture, and College of Accountancy Education, said.

They complained that the exam results were released on March 2, 2021 and those who failed had to re-enroll.

“Kadalasan mga working students ang apektado ng pag-retake ng CA at nahihirapan na sila sa paghahanap ng panggastos para sa matrikula,” one student said.

Last year, there were reports that students failed the same examination allegedly because of the university’s “careless administering.”

But UM said it was not carelessness because the purpose of the examination is “to determine the students’ over-all knowledge of all the subjects taken under the program and to prepare them for the licensure examination.”

The university reiterated that the CA course in the curriculum is a valid exercise of its academic freedom.

The students however called for a “mass promotion” saying that it will alleviate their burden amid the new mode of learning.

The National Union of Students of the Philippine-Davao chapter threw its support behind the students.

“Bilang isang alyansa ng mga estudyante na isinusulong ang mga demokratikong karapatan ng mga estudyante’t kabataan, ang NUSP-Davao ay nananawagan sa UM admin na dinggin ang hinaing ng kanilang mga estudyante,” it said.

The POST tried to reach UM administration for its reaction but it has yet to respond.