Makati HS principal: Blue-Ribbon school inspection might disrupt classes

MANILA, Philippines - The principal of the Makati Science High School (MSHS) on Wednesday appealed to the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee not to hold its inspection of the school’s new building on Friday as it would disrupt classes.

MSHS principal Evangelina Apolinario said she received a letter on Tuesday from Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee chairman Senator Aquilino Pimentel III by fax informing her that the sub-committee intends to hold an ocular inspection of the new school building at 9 a.m.

Apolinario said she wrote Pimentel last Tuesday and requested that the inspection be done during the weekend so as not to disrupt classes. In her letter, Apolinario also expressed concern that if the inspection of the school’s premises were done on a weekday, it would have some adverse effects on the students.

“We would like to spare our students from needless anxiety and other adverse effects they may suffer if they witness the actual inspection of their school facilities,” Apolinario said.

“We trust that you also have the best interest of the youth at heart and will understand our concern for the wellbeing of our students,” she added.

The Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee during its hearing last November 6 announced its intention to conduct an ocular inspection of the new MSHS building in relation to its ongoing investigation of the alleged overprice in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

According to the Makati City government, the new 10-storey MSHS building along Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Cembo was opened last June. At present, 870 students are using the school building.

The Makati City government said the new MSHS building is equipped with eight modern science laboratories, a robotics center, a digital speech laboratory, a reading center, a 20-seater conference room, an audio-visual room, a culinary arts room, a press room, six faculty rooms, and 27 classrooms.

It also has a basement parking with 75 slots and its entire eighth floor holds a dormitory with 20 rooms, each equipped with four double-deck beds which can accommodate eight students.

According to the Makati City government, the Department of Education has granted MSHS the authority to implement its Special Science and Technology Curriculum on May 27 1994. At present, it is among the top 100 performing public and private schools in the Philippines, the city government added.