Ateneo creates co-ed senior high school department

MANILA, Philippines - The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) on Friday announced the creation of a new co-educational department starting school year 2016-2017.

ADMU President Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ announced the creation of the university's Senior High School program, a decision the university's board of trustees arrived at during its February 7 meeting.

Villarin said the decision is “a milestone in our ongoing K-12 Basic Education Reform program.”

“This completes the planned restructuring of our basic education program into six years of grade school and six years of high school. By schoolyear 2016-17, the Ateneo High School will then be composed of four years of junior high school (grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (grades 11 to 12),” he said.

The university president added that the senior high school will be open to incoming Ateneo grade 11 boys and an additional 300 students from schools outside Ateneo High School.

“The 300 additional new entrants, both boys and girls, will be chosen from public, parochial and select private schools all over the country. In view of our desire to provide quality education and leadership formation for those coming mainly from the public school system, 100 scholarship grants will be offered in the Senior High School to academically gifted but financially challenged students," he said.