By Gabriela Baron
The University of the Philippines (UP) is mulling the possibility of suspending its UP college admission test (UPCAT) anew for the Academic Year 2023-2024.
Office of Admissions Director Francisco De Los Reyes said the proposal to scrap the UPCAT this year is “in light of concerns about the public health situation.”
De Los Reyes also cited the logistical challenges of ensuring the safety and well-being of over 100,000 applicants and around 1,600 personnel who will administer the test nationwide.
The deliberations on the suspension of UPCAT for the upcoming academic year are ongoing the the eight UP constituent units: Baguio, Cebu, Diliman, Los Baños, Manila, Mindanao, Open University, and the Visayas.
For two consecutive years, UP did not administer UPCAT and instead based admissions on UPCA, a test based on applicants’ rank, campus quota, and/or cut-off grades.