Makati inaugurates modern building for Science HS

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay on Friday led the inauguration of the new, state-of-the-art Makati Science High School (MSHS) building located along Kalayaan Avenue, Barangay Cembo, where classes will officially begin this June.

Speaking before MSHS students and faculty, Binay said that the new 10-storey building with its modern science laboratories and learning facilities will be more conducive to progressive teaching and learning.

“I have no doubt that with this state-of-the-art school building, we could expect to see more outstanding achievements from the ranks of our academic scholars in the Makati Science High School in the coming years,” Binay said.

This June, the new MSHS building will be housing a maximum of 945 students for school year 2014-2015, including some 280 successful applicants to be admitted to Grade VII. With a total of 54 classrooms, average classroom size would be 35 students. At present, the old four-storey MSHS in Brgy. Poblacion has a population of 863 high school students.

DepEd-Makati officer-in-charge Dominico Idanan lauded the city government for its commitment to quality public education that has inspired excellence among the youth of Makati. The new MSHS building, he said, presents another milestone in the fruitful partnership between the city government and DepEd-Makati.

"The faculty and students of Makati Science High School are excited and looking forward to transferring to the new building this coming school year. It is another worthwhile investment and a proud testament to the relentless efforts of the city government to promote world-class public education that will produce globally competitive citizens,” Idanan said.

Idanan said the new building, a WiFi zone, also features eight state-of-the art science laboratories, a Robotics center, an electronic library, digital speech laboratory, two modern computer laboratories, a Reading center, fully-equipped theatre, 20-seater conference room and audio visual room (AVR), culinary arts room, six faculty rooms, 26 academic classrooms and a Press Room.

The building also has a basement parking with 75 slots and its entire eighth floor will serve as a dormitory with 20 rooms. Each room has four double-deck beds that can accommodate eight students.

Idanan said that the next phase of the site development plan for MSHS will be the construction of a covered court at the back of the school building, where students can hold sports activities even if it is raining. The city government also plans to build a planetarium at the side of the building where interactive science activities can be conducted, he said.

The Makati Science, formerly the Makati West High School, was allowed to implement its Special Science and Technology Curriculum on May 27, 1994.

It has been ranked among the top 100 performing public and private schools in the country and many of its students were chosen to visit and study in other countries like Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, and USA, among others, as part of the exchange program of the Department of Education.

Meanwhile, two school extension buildings are also set to be inaugurated Saturday. The four-storey Comembo Elementary School extension has a total of 18 classrooms, together with faculty rooms, a computer room, and comfort rooms on every floor. The four-storey with mezzanine Pembo Elementary School extension has 16 additional classrooms, a computer room, faculty rooms and comfort rooms.