By DANNY O. SAGUN
pia Dagupan Infocenter
THE Department of Education continues to hold sports activities despite the fact that “culture and sports” as part of the name of the department was dropped some years back, it was clarified Tuesday.

Dr. Alberto Macob, OIC-assistant superintendent of Pangasinan Division Isaid that the department holds various sports meets, starting first in the schools, then by district, by division, by region, and lastly in the Palarong Pambansa.

All sports activities in the country are supposed to be administered by a separate body like the Philippine Sports Commission so that the education department can concentrate on academic activities. The idea came up during the time of the late education Secretary Raul Roco but the system was not fully implemented.

Macob told the Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency over Radyo ng Bayan-DZMQ that school sports has been retained with the department so that it continues to hold various sports meets from the local up to the national level.

Meanwhile, the national career assessment examination (NCAE) for graduating high school students was aimed to guide students which courses they would take in college.

NCAE was different from the abolished national college entrance examination (NCEE) which barred students from entering college if they failed to pass the test, Macob clarified.

Various tests are administered to elementary pupils and secondary students to check and monitor their progress, he said. (DOS/PIA)