Philippines - Science High School to open in Koronadal in 2013

KORONADAL CITY – The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) is putting up a campus in this city expected to open next year, an official said.

Dr. Zenaida P. Hadji Raof Laidan, Department of Science and Technology regional director, said the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the PSHS system has formally approved the setting up of a campus in this city, the seat of government of Soccsksargen.

"This is part of the efforts to put up a Pisay [as PSHS is popularly called] in every administrative region across the country to bring closer to the grassroots quality education highly focused on science, technology and mathematics," she said in a recent statement.

Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo chairs the BOT and Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro as the vice chair. The members include 11 others from the government, academe and private sectors.

Laidan said the BOT finally gave its go signal after the Provincial Government of South Cotabato agreed to donate a nearly five-hectare property in Barangay Paraiso.

Also, South Cotabato Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. committed a funding support of P15 million to help in the initial construction of the campus.

Laidan said construction works will immediately commence after the formal turnover of the property to the PSHS, and that they are hopeful the school could begin operation next year.

The turnover is still being worked out with Montejo expected to grace the event.

The PSHS, which is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, is patterned after the Bronx High School of Science in New York City.

It was created for the purpose of giving an education highly enriched in science and mathematics to exceptionally gifted Filipino children.

"The PSHS campus will not only boost quality education in South Cotabato but also throughout Region 12 (Soccsksargen) and other neighboring regions," Laidan said.

Soccsksargen covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

A PSHS campus usually includes the school building, dormitory, canteen and sports facilities, among other amenities.

Established in 1963, the PSHS has now grown into eight campuses in different locations in the Philippines.

There are two of them in Mindanao – in Northern Mindanao and in Davao Region.

The PSHS accepts only the best and brightest high school students through a rigid screening process. Successful scholars are either fully or partly subsidized by the government.

Bong S. Sarmiento

Sun.Star Davao newspaper