“We have to act now in order to put our education system in the proper standard and improve the competencies of our graduates and professionals so that we can compete in the global arena starting with how we produce our law graduates,” Angeles said.

While cracking down on “non-performing” law schools, the CHEd chairman also released a list of the country‘s “Top 20 law schools in terms of their percentile passing rate.”

“The Top 20 schools should serve as model to other law schools in terms of producing successful first-time takers of the Bar Exams, minimizing wastage and frustration in graduates,” Angeles said.

These schools were Ateneo de Manila University, San Beda College, University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University-DLSU (Juris Doctor-MBA), Ateneo de Davao University, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas, University of Cebu, University of Perpetual Help-Rizal, and Arellano University.

Also included were the Xavier University, Far Eastern University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, University of San Agustin, University of Batangas, Palawan State University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Saint Louis University, Lyceum of the Philippines, and the San Sebastian College-Recolectos de Manila.

Angeles said CHEd would also review the other programs of HEIs that require licensure exams administered by the Professional Regulatory Commission.

“We have allotted a reasonable amount of the CHED’s budget for the special monitoring of the performance of HEIs in the programs that they are offering,” he said.

Segment of http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090923-226561/6-law-schools-to-be-closed----CHED