The Humanitarian (Indulgence)
In more ways than one, the battle-cry of these professors are sympathy and understanding. They suppose that the students should be given chances, and that there is a good chance they could pass the board exams. They also believe that it is not the teachers' job to fail, but rather, the ultimate process should be the board exams. It is also their understanding that the parents have invested too much money (even sold cows, water buffalo, and goats) for the teachers to fail a student. Most of these teachers are parents as well, who have experienced the difficulty in child rearing. It is easy for them to relate and to sympathize with the students.
The Draconian (Tough Love)
The aspiration of these teachers is towards discipline and metacognition. They presume that the students have acquired enough maturity to regard atrocity as irrelevant in the pursuit of learning. They presume that students are mature, and that the only true way to efficient learning is discipline. Classroom management is a requirement before a student can learn. The usual response speaks of honesty to the limited capability of a student, that students should be made aware of their actual performance. The philosophy is towards rigid training and making failure a tool for learning. It is also the aim of these teachers to troubleshoot deficiencies and elevate the standards of the class. Passing a student that does not deserve to pass would mean a potential failure that could affect the entire board exam passing percentage of the college. In addition, it could lead to a future dentist who is more likely to commit malpractice and iatrogenic damage.
In conclusion, it is my impression that grades are solely the accountability of the student. Whether humanitarian or draconian, the purpose should be towards transparency and progress. Too much restriction could hinder growth. Too much privilege could do the same equal harm. Treatment and teaching strategies should be varied and an equal mix of freedom and discipline. But, that does not negate the fact that grades should strictly come from the raw performance of the students. With the acquisition of the university by PEN (PHINMA Educational Network), everyone is hoping that "strict retention" would be observed without bias.