20K to retake WVSU entrance exam

ILOILO CITY: The Board of Regents of West Visayas State University (WVSU) has declared null and void the admission tests taken by more than 20,000 applicants after the school has confirmed the leakage of the question sheets.

Hence, there is a need for all of the applicants to retake the entrance exam.

“The WVSU administration and the Board of Regents have agreed to invalidate the WVSUCAT (WVSU College Admission Test) 2024 conducted on March 10, 2024, based on the committee’s preliminary reports,” the university said in a statement on Friday afternoon, March 15.

“There is reason to believe that the integrity of the examination has been compromised. Given this, the University will schedule a retake of the WVSU admission exam,” it added.

The decision said that conducting another examination will eliminate undue advantage for specific individuals who may have benefited from the “leaked examination items.”

The date for the conduct of the retake is yet to be announced.

WVSU also noted that the retake will be administered in identified testing centers covering strategic geographical areas.

While its internal investigation is ongoing, the university has assured the public that it will identify the accountable individuals for the breach.

“We empathize with the student examinees and their families for the inconvenience this has created,” the university said.

Meticulous process

In an interview with a local radio station, WVSU President Joselito Villaruz has urged the public to “not ride on the issue and avoid influencing the outcome of the investigation.”

“Let us keep our calm and wait until the investigation is over. The investigation is a very meticulous process. There are multiple steps involved, and there are individuals that are also involved during these critical steps,” he said.

The fact-finding committee, composed of high-ranking university officials, was created immediately after the alleged leakage was posted and shared on social media on Wednesday, March 13.

“Individuals who have been contributory to the preparation of the exam, to the conduct of the exam, to the pilot testing of the exam, all of them will be called to present their case or opinion about the case. They will be asked for some enlightenment in the investigation,” Villaruz said.

Villaruz also said that all updates on the investigation would come directly from his office.

“The official statement will come from the Office of the WVSU President because that’s the only time that they confirm that there is really a leak in the conduct of the WVSUCAT. As far as I know, I haven’t received the document [with findings],” he said.

“I would like to deny those allegations or statements coming from anyone. The committee is an independent body, and they cannot issue statements without a full investigation report,” he added.

Villaruz was referring to the statements made by Hazel Villa, head of WVSU Public Affairs and Marketing Communications Office, who is not part of the investigation committee.

“WVSU has determined in its initial investigation today, March 14, that there is indeed a leakage of items in the WVSUCAT. The university strongly condemns the cheating that ensued following the leakage. Individuals found responsible for the leakage will face the full force of the law, based on its findings,” Villa said in her statement distributed to several media outlets.

The investigation committee is expected to release its final results next week, according to Villaruz.

Those who took the exam will receive notification from the WVSU Admissions Committee on the details of their new exam schedule through their emails.