Construction of PhilSci in Koronadal to start soon

By Dani Doguiles

Friday 10th of February 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Feb 10 (PIA) -- South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. has confirmed that the construction of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Koronadal City campus will begin soon.

Pingoy announced in a radio interview that Dr. Josette Talamera-Biyo , executive director of PSHS, has informed him through a text message that construction of the PSHS campus at Barangay Paraiso has been given the go signal.

PSHS Koronadal Campus will be built on the 4.5-hectare lot that the provincial LGU has acquired at cost of P7.3 million and donated to the Department of Science and Technology- 12 .

Once completed, the campus will be situated near the international halal laboratory, another facility of DOST-12 which will ensure the country’s participation in the multi-billion dollar global halal market.

Construction of the classrooms, laboratories and other facilities as well as the procurement of the equipment will be funded mostly by DOST where the PSHS educational system belongs.

But Gov. Pingoy announced Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez of the Youth Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP) party-list group has pledged P5 million for the construction of the school building.

“I hope other congressmen will also donate funds the PSHS,” Pingoy said.

He has also requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to allocate more funds to make sure that classrooms, dormitories and other facilities will be ready by the target inauguration and beginning of classes in June 2013.

Unlike most high schools in the country, PSHS was created for the purpose of giving an education highly enriched in science and mathematics to exceptionally gifted Filipino children.

PSHS website says its core curriculum “is packed with science and mathematics courses, allowing the student to maximize their potential intellectual skills. This is balanced by rich humanities course offerings which foster the full growth of each individual personality.

“The science and mathematics subjects are generally advanced. Each year starting in the second year, the students take Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate subjects. Computer Science is offered in all year levels.”

All students of PSHS schools are scholars who enjoy free tuition fee, free loan of text books, monthly stipend, and uniform, transportation and living allowances for low income groups.

Grade 6 or 7 students who belong to the upper 10% of the graduating class and does not have a grade below 80% could take the PSHS national competitive examination, which determines entrance to the school system.

If an applicant does not belong to the top 10%, he/she could still take the NCE if he/she has special aptitude in math and science as evidenced by the report card, with at least final grade of 85 in science and math and 80 in all other subjects.

The plan for the establishment of a PSHS campus in Koronadal was endorsed by the Regional Development Council.

The PSHS campus nearest to South Cotabato is in Tugbok, Davao City .

Its main campus is in Diliman, Quezon City. It also has campuses in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur; Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya; Goa, Camarines Sur; Palo, Leyte; Iloilo City; Argao, Cebu; Tubod, Lanao del Norte; and Clark Freeport, Pampanga. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)