WITH A PASSING rate of 57.14%, 24 out of 42 Accountancy graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences passed the May 2024 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examinations (CPALE) conducted last June 1, which accounts for a 75% passing rate among first time takers and 50% with repeaters.
The result of the May 2024 CPALE surpassed the national passing average at 30.3% and is a marked improvement of the Department’s previous record of 38.24% .
Dr. Jackqui R. Moreno, CPA, Chairperson of the Department of Accountancy and Taxation, attributes this year’s success to several factors, saying “We have worked not only for the CPA board-taking but also for the practical use of the subjects and I think the instruction of the faculty members are really based on the practical application.”
She further mentioned that the faculty members of the department have “good industry experience,” noting the contrast with the years prior before focusing on the technicalities of the board examination.
Another factor she pointed out was the curriculum’s new integration of 21 workshop units, which previously only had nine. Dr. Moreno also opined that the Board Examination is very competitive—which is “why we increased the workshop classes in their 4th year already,” added the department chairperson.
Accordingly, she observed how there has been a noticeable improvement in the students themselves, saying, “Kahit papaano, mas tumibay ‘yung loob nila ngayon kasi they are very pressured to really improve,” considering how Dr. Moreno cited that the challenge, insofar as determining the passing rate is concerned, lies on the graduating students. In line with this, Dr. Moreno continues to emphasize the “uncompromised stringent policies” of the University on evaluating whether or not the students are ready for the board examinations. Such a high caliber of standard remains to be intact in order to, of course, not compromise the quality upheld by the University.
But amid the rigid system of the University, the department chairperson promised to tweak the “practiced tough love” in the department in order for students to “truly appreciate accounting.” In doing so, “will not only be increasing the number of students but also making them commit themselves to the future profession,” added Dr. Moreno.
Overall, Dr. Moreno credited the success of the department with three things: “a medley of the students’ attitude, the curriculum that we have, [and] the style of the teachers now na instead working on the technical competence, application also is considered.”
For this year, the next CPALE is now scheduled on October 25-27 according to PRC’s resolution no. 1728, series of 2023. Hence, as the department prepares for the board examinations, Dr. Moreno left a piece of advice for its students and examinees alike, saying “If you love something, even if it’s hard you’ll do everything to get it,” while further promising to maximize everyone’s cooperation and support before the students of the department.