It aims to further strengthen the governance and system of the secondary institution.
On Friday, October 3, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 12310, or the “Expanded Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System Act.”
This new law provides for the establishment of additional PSHS campuses across the country to offer scholarship-based secondary education programs with special emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for students with exceptional aptitude in science and mathematics.
In addition, this also aims to further the number of high school graduates pursuing undergraduate studies or careers in STEM, on top of ensuring consistent quality standards and efficient operations in PSHS campuses, and support the holistic development of scholars, faculty, and staff.
“A PSHS System shall be established under the administrative supervision of the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) composed of at least two PSHS campuses in each administrative region of the country,” noted in RA 12310.
PSHS campuses within the same region, however, shall not be situated in the same province or city in the case of the National Capital Region, while the establishment of additional campuses will be subjected to a comprehensive review conducted by the PSHS Board of Trustees.
The said board will serve as the highest policy- and decision-making body and will be led by the DOST Secretary as ex officio chairperson and the Secretary of Education as ex officio vice chairperson.
Meanwhile, an additional PSHS campus in the Negros Island Region was also mandated by the new law, with the PSHS System Board of Trustees have the option of building in the following locations for its future expansion.
- Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
- Third Distrct of Cagayan
- Polangui, Albay
- First District of Aklan
- Uba, Bohol
- Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur
- Bukidnon
- South Cotabato
- General Santos City
PSHS currently has 16 campuses located in Quezon City, Baguio City, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Clark Freeport Zone, Batangas City, Romblon, Camarines Sur, Iloilo City, Cebu, Leyte, Dipolog City, Lanao del Norte, Davao City, Koronadal City, and Butuan City.
The Philippine Science High School System was originally established in June 1963, through RA 3661, with the aim of providing free scholarship-based secondary education focusing on science.