Catbalogan City, Philippines — The Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) program of Samar Colleges, Inc. (SC), with its five specializations in Educational Management, Elementary Education, Filipino, Communicative Language Learning, and Reading, advanced through a two-day onsite monitoring and evaluation conducted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Quality Assessment Team (RQAT) from June 17 to 18, 2026.

The activity was conducted through the monitoring and evaluation process prescribed under CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 15, series of 2019, which sets the Policies, Standards, and Guidelines for Graduate Education. Through this evaluation, SC’s graduate programs were assessed for compliance with CHED standards and requirements, as well as their quality, effectiveness, and alignment with the prescribed policies.

The CHED RQAT was composed of Dr. Maria Mylah Javier, Education Supervisor II; and Members of the Regional Quality Assessment Team, Dr. Jennifer A. Gorumba, and Dr. Robert P. Jordan, who conducted a comprehensive review of academic and administrative documents and inspected facilities, including the library and other learning resources supporting the delivery of graduate education.

Present during the opening program were Dr. Pedrito G. Padilla, Senior Vice President for Academic Programs; Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso, Senior Vice President for Programs Development and Quality Assurance; and Dr. Nimfa T. Torremoro, Dean of the Graduate School. Other college deans and department heads were also present and participated in the monitoring activities and presented documentary evidence relevant to the evaluation process.

During the exit conference, the RQAT presented its findings, observations, and recommendations to further strengthen compliance with CHED standards and enhance program implementation. While areas for improvement were identified, the team also acknowledged SC’s continuing efforts to improve its curriculum, upgrade facilities, and strengthen support mechanisms that contribute to the delivery of quality graduate education.

The evaluation concluded with Dr. Torremoro expressing the institution's commitment to act on the recommendations provided and sustain efforts toward continuous quality improvement. Certificates of appreciation were likewise presented to each member of the monitoring team in recognition of their valuable expertise, insights, and contributions throughout the two-day evaluation process.

The two-day monitoring activity forms part of CHED’s and Samar Colleges' ongoing efforts to strengthen graduate education programs and ensure alignment with national standards for quality higher education.