KORONADAL CITY — A teacher aspirant was denied entry to the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) after arriving four minutes late on March 15, 2026, following a last-minute issue with her Notice of Admission (NOA) that required her to leave the venue and have it reprinted.
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Rasiya EB |
Rasiya Esmael Bagkuas said the delay stemmed from being instructed to secure a new copy of her NOA due to formatting concerns, an unexpected complication that cost her the narrow window to enter before the official cutoff.
In a viral video, she recounted, “Nandito ako sa Koronadal sa Marvel 1. Hindi po nila ako pina-exam. Na-late lang ng 4 minutes kasi pinrint ko pa yung NOA ko na bago,” as she explained why she stepped out moments before the exam.
According to Bagkuas, her NOA had been printed in two pages instead of the standard one page, prompting a proctor to advise her to have it corrected within a limited time before the exam began.
She rushed to comply but returned at 8:04 a.m., just four minutes past the 8:00 a.m. cutoff, at which point the gates had already been closed to examinees.
“Natapos po ako magpa-print 8:04 a.m. na po… nakiusap po ako sa nagbabantay sa gate na papasukin ako kasi may approval naman ako sa proctor,” she said, noting that her request was denied despite her explanation.
Bagkuas said she pleaded to be allowed entry, emphasizing that the examination had not yet started, but was ultimately turned away after waiting outside for reconsideration.
“Kahit anong pagmamakaawa ko hindi na talaga nila ako pinapasok,” she added, recalling the moment she broke down outside the testing site.
Despite the incident, Bagkuas clarified that she holds no ill will toward the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and did not intend to damage the reputation of its Koronadal office.
“Gusto ko lang pong linawin na wala po akong binanggit na pangalan at hindi ko po intensyon nasiraan ang PRC,” she said, stressing that she only wanted to share her side of the story.
The PRC enforces strict punctuality rules under Resolution No. 2008-417, which bars late examinees from entering once the examination process has officially begun.
The incident has since drawn mixed reactions online, with some emphasizing adherence to rules while others called for consideration given the circumstances behind her delay.
Bagkuas also appealed for understanding amid negative comments, saying, “Sana naman po… huwag po kayong mag-comment ng sobrang sama,” as she highlighted the effort and expenses she incurred for the exam.
Support has since emerged from netizens and educators, including an offer of a full review scholarship, giving the aspiring teacher another chance to pursue her goal of passing the LET.
— The Summit Express