BY VIRTUE OF REPUBLIC ACT 6655, the Manila Science High School (MSHS or MaSci) became a regular high school in 1989. The Philippine Science High School and Quezon City Science High School, on the other hand, have special funding.
This means that the MSHS’s budget is barely enough to spend for competitive teachers’ salaries/facilities, a dire situation in the light of its demanding curriculum and its bright students who expect quality education.
For many years, the school has had its share of college honor graduates in reputable universities in Manila, leaders in government and private industry, as well as outstanding teachers. These are the reasons why the MSHS Alumni Foundation is resolute to help enhance the MSHS’s high academic traditions. Thus, the foundation is appealing to the public and to all MaSci alumni to volunteer their talents and time. Here are some of the Foundation’s key projects and concerns:
• BOOK PROJECT. Department of Education’s (DepEd) textbooks are not appropriate for MSHS’ science curriculum, but both students and parents find it hard to source the required textbooks, while some can ill-afford to buy them. Reference books are inadequate and outdated.
•COMPUTER MAINTENANCE AND INTERNET PROJECT. The school has many computers mostly provided for by Citibank and Philippine Business for Social Progress, but can neither maintain them nor sustain the Internet services.
•NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COMPETITION-ASSISTANCE PROJECT. The MSHS relies on project-based (piece-meal) contributions from parents/intermittent donors for the MSHS’s competition entries, packaging, stipends for advisers and the team’s travel expenses. Funds for these purposes are neither enough nor consistent.
•SCHOLARSHIPS. Stipends are given only for needy yet deserving students. And the number of needy students is growing rapidly.
•OTHER PROJECTS. The MSHS Alumni Foundation has been planning to tap the potential support of local and international donors for various high school projects like books, faculty development, computers, and others.
To have a clearer idea on these projects, the MSHS alumni and interested public are invited to attend the MSHS Alumni Volunteers’ Forum on June 10, 1 pm at the MSHS Building, Taft Avenue corner P. Faura Street, Manila.
For more information, call Olive at tel. no. 527-5708, Constant at tel. no. 641-5060, Doss at cp. no. 0918-9283398 or e-mail doscorrea@yahoo.com.ph.
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