8.04.2013
MANILA, Philippines – “The University of the Philippines (UP) makes sure that even if the student is blind, he could take the UPCAT.”
Professor Therese Bustos of UP Diliman and facilitator of the Special UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) said the entrance exam is available to all interested 4th year high school students.
On August 7 and 9, the premier university will conduct a Special UPCAT for high school students with disabilities. For the first time, a Braille test will also be made available for the lone visually impaired UPCAT examinee this year.
The university regularly administers a Special UPCAT for students with disabilities and special needs. In previous years, the entire exam was read aloud to students who were visually impaired.
According to Bustos, the holding of a Special UPCAT is in line with the university’s commitment to provide a level playing field for everyone who wants to enter UP.
No announcement
However, Ellen Carino, social worker for the Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB), said they did not have prior knowledge about the special UPCAT. By virtue of RA 3562, which seeks to promote the education of the blind, PNSB was established.
Had they been informed about it, Carino said that PNSB students would have also taken the UPCAT.
Carino has been with PNSB for 14 years already. “Wala po akong na-experience na may estudyante ng PNSB na nag-take sa UP. Nasa akin yung records.” (I have not seen a student of PNSB take the UP exam. The recordds are with me.)
Most of the students in PNSB pursue tertiary education at the Philippine National University (PNU), Philippine Christian University (PCU), St Paul University, STI College, and Holy Trinity College.
Interested students
According to Bustos, the special UPCAT is not announced as its being offered is premised on students being interested first.
“If you look at the UPCAT form, you can check the option if you have a disability. To begin with, if he is not interested, then he will not know that the university will make that accommodation for him.”
In a report filed by Verafiles, the special UPCAT has been administered in various ways to accommodate the different needs of interested takers.
In the past, the Office of Admissions facilitated the exam, providing digital answer sheets. To accommodate students with poor vision, they had also printed questions with a font size of 24. - Rappler.com
