The Commission on Higher Education is closing at least seven law schools across the country for their failure to produce a bar passer for the past 10 years.
The schools are as follows:
- Abra Valley College in Bangued, Abra
- Polytechnic College of La Union in Agoo, La Union
- Ramon Magsaysay Technological University in Iba, Zambales
- East Central Colleges in San Fernando, Pampanga
- Southern Bicol College in Masbate
- Eastern Samar State University in Borongan, Eastern Samar
- Samar College in Catbalogan, Western Samar
CHED chairman Emmanuel Angeles revealed that these were identified in a study by the commission on the law programs of various schools based on data from the Supreme Court from 1999 to 2009.
“These law schools that have been getting zero percent will be advised to shut down their law programs,” Angeles told reporters.
He added that four other non-performing law schools have voluntarily phased out their law programs. These are:
- Virgen De Los Remedios College in Olongapo City
- Manuel A. Roxas Educational Institution
- International Harvardian University in Davao City
- Zamboanga A.E. College in Zamboanga City.
CHED will start closing the non-performing law schools next year. It also plans to close law schools with poor passing rates, i.e., those with a passing rate of less than five percent in the bar exams for the past 10 years.