THE COLLEGE of Engineering (COE) hit a remarkable record in the recent board examinations for electronics technicians given by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) last October 25.

Based on the report furnished by Prof. Wilson R. Duldulao, chair of the COE Department of Electronics Engineering, 14 out of the 15 examinees passed the test garnering a 93.33 percent passing rate as against the 84.82 percent national passing.

The passers were the same group of examinees who took the Electronics Engineer Licensure Examination that was given by the PRC last October 24. However, only seven passed the first test which gave the College a 31.82 percent passing rate as against the 39.94 percent national passing rate.

Prof. Duldulao said that the institutional passing rate for the Electronics Engineer Licensure Examination is obviously lower than the national passing percentage. However, more than 60 percent of the schools in the country that offer BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering program registered below the national passing percentage this year.

“In fact, MMSU still ranks number five among the 20 universities and colleges in northern Luzon that offer BSECE program and number one in Ilocos Norte,” Prof, Duldulao reported.

Prof. Duldulao said that based on the information from the graduates who took the licensure examination, the area where they got failing scores are Mathematics, and in General Engineering and Applied Sciences (GEAS).

“With these results, we, at the Department of Electronics Engineering, are planning to strengthen the offering of these subjects under these areas by maintaining at least 50 percent passing percentage because these are foundation subjects,” he said adding that they must also revisit the guidelines on retention policies of the COE in order to improve the performance of the graduates.

The successful passers in the Electronics Engineer Licensure Examination are Bell Camille Abian, Vince Carlo Cordial, Hailyn Gay Ganotisi, Clarence Inocelda Jr., Eric Victor Leysan, Criselda Mateo, and Jazer Mike Ramos.

Passers in the board examinations for electronics technicians are Bell Camille Abian, John Paul Aranda, Maria Lyka Bodoy, Jerald Ibale, Clarence Inocelda Jr., Victor Leysan, Mark Herry Lopez, Darren Dale Matias, Lhean Mariano, Alvin Jay Menor, Irvin Kyle Froilan Quinto, Gerard San Miguel, Karl Jehoshaphat Santiago, and Odessa Mae Ulep.

Electronics engineers use scientific knowledge of the behaviour and effects of electrons in order to design, develop and test components of many devices, systems or equipment that use electricity as power source. Their work can be found in a variety of areas such as medical instruments, mobile phones, nanotechnology, radio and satellite communication, and robotics.

On the other hand, electronics technicians conduct, maintain, test and repair electrical or electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems and components. Among other things, they provide skilled mechanical and electrical/electronic support of all areas of manufacturing. (By Reynaldo E. Andres)