Memoirs of an Amnesiac

After graduation from high school, my father struck a deal with me. "It's either you take up education at Cebu Normal University" or you don't study at all. I couldn't afford college education, what with my meager income. Take it or leave it."

At that time (unlike now), being an out-of-school youth was a major embarrassment that none of us youth would take that path. It was always nice to be able to reply to someone who would ask, "Unsa'y imong course?" (What's your course?) and "Asa?" (Where are you taking it?). But I had an internal conflict. I wanted so much to take up Mass Communication or Computer Engineering. I had such huge fascination with both that I would prefer to be an out-of-school youth rather than not take any of them. So you can only imagine my disappointment when I applied for education. I cried the night before the exams, feeling like a maiden being forced to marry someone she hasn't met all because of her father's arrangement with that guy's father. My 1x1 picture that happened to be attached to the school's records is living proof to that once upon a time drama.

Later, when I reached my second year in college where I already had my major, I thought, "not bad." At least when I finished college, when I could work, I can proceed to the course I really wanted and be a professional with it.

Fast forward. It's been nine years and I had not really proceeded to the plan I had before. I got busy with work. Besides, I realized, I had actually loved the profession my father chose for me at the start.

So typical of parents to choose courses for their children. Even with the advent of the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) which helps student gauge their skills and maximize their full potential given the course they really liked and are interested in. Before it used to be National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) when one can't pursue a college degree unless he/she passes it (or so professes my uncle who took it since my parents were both high school undergraduates). Then, it was changed to National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT).

I have been administering NCAE since it was first implemented in 2007. The sole purpose of which is to aid students in determining career choices. But as it turned out, most parents are still unaware of such an exam. Most of them still try to impose the careers they want their children to take in college. Although some colleges are considering the NCAE results of students for admission, most of the colleges (especially those of high reputation) still rely on their aptitude and scholastic entrance examinations for determining student's entry into their colleges. On our last briefing before the NCAE was administered last August 29, 2012, the government still has to pass a law making NCAE a prerequisite to college.

Much money, not to mention, effort is spent each year by the government (from the coffers of marginalized parents) for such exams. I recognize the move to use the NCAE as a form of research for the kind of education the high school institutions provide to their students. But it might as well become very significant if it were used as the major basis for acceptance in college being it a national examination.

When I asked our third year high school student how the exam went, he said it was "ok."

I don't think we can afford to hear just an "ok" among the college institutions which will take them in two years from thence.