Makati Science High School
| Makati Science High School Mataas na Paaralang Pang-Agham ng Makati (Filipino) | |
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Kalayaan Avenue, Cembo , Metro Manila 1640 Philippines | |
| Coordinates | 14°33′47″N 121°03′09″E / 14.56292°N 121.05248°E |
| Information | |
| Former name | Makati West High School |
| School type | Science High School |
| Established | 1986 |
| Educational authority | Schools Divisions Office of Taguig City and Pateros |
| Principal | Alixander H. Escote |
| Enrollment | ≈ 1,300 students |
| Song | Makati Science High School Hymn |
| Budget | ₱34.28 million (2024)[1] |
| Website | www |
Makati Science High School (Filipino: Mataas na Paaralang Pang-Agham ng Makati) is a public science high school in Taguig, Philippines. It is one of three science high schools of the City of Taguig, and it is managed by the Schools Divisions Office of Taguig City and Pateros (SDO-TAPAT). The City of Makati claims ownership and management of the school since it is located in a formerly disputed territory.
History[edit]
The Makati Science High School, initially established as Makati West High School on June 16, 1986, owes its founding to the efforts of the Makati city government and then-Mayor Jejomar Binay. Located on Mayapis Street in Barangay San Antonio, the school was created to meet the educational needs of elementary graduates in Makati's first legislative district. At its inauguration, it became the third public secondary school in what was then the municipality of Makati, following the establishment of Makati High School in 1968 and Fort Bonifacio High School in 1947 (which is now under Taguig's jurisdiction).
In 1994, the school was renamed Makati Science High School to reflect its focus on science and technology education. Three years later, in 1997, it relocated to Osias Street in Barangay Poblacion.[2] By 2014, the school had moved to its current premises on Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Cembo.[3]
On March 31, 2019, the new Makati Science High School building experienced a significant incident when a fire broke out in one of the classrooms on the sixth floor.[4]
A major administrative shift occurred in 2022 when the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that Makati should cease exercising jurisdiction over Barangay Cembo, effectively placing the Makati Science High School under Taguig's jurisdiction.[5] Following this decision, the Department of Education - National Capital Region (DepEd NCR) transferred the administration, management, and supervision of the school from Makati City's Schools Division Office to the School Divisions Office of Taguig City and Pateros (SDO-TAPAT) for the August 2023 school year.[5]
To avoid potential conflicts between Makati and Taguig amidst ongoing disputes, the national Department of Education (DepEd) temporarily assumed direct oversight of Makati Science High School.[6] This interim measure remained in place until January 1, 2024, when all 14 Embo elementary and high schools, including Makati Science High School, were officially transferred from Makati to Taguig, thereby placing the school once again under the management of SDO-TAPAT. [7]
Campus[edit]
In 2014, Makati Science High School moved to its new campus, a modern ten-story building (excluding the basement parking) located on Kalayaan Avenue. This state-of-the-art facility includes ten science laboratories, three computer labs, two canteens, two elevators, a library, a speech lab, an Audio Visual room, a clinic, six faculty rooms, and 30 classrooms. The eighth floor houses a dormitory, while the ninth and tenth floors contain an auditorium. However, the top three floors are still under construction and remain inaccessible to the public. The school campus also features a basketball court on its left side and a garden at the back.
The current building of the school was subject to controversy after it was involved in a graft case against former vice president Jejomar Binay and his son, former Makati mayor Junjun Binay. The building was indicated to have cost ₱1.3 billion (US$22.5 million) or ₱72,500 per square meter, when it should have only been worth ₱470 million (US$9.2 million) or ₱25,620 per square meter.[8][9]
Despite its advanced infrastracture, the current building has been at the center of a significant controversy. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, faced graft charges related to the building's construction costs. Reports indicated that the building's expenses amounted to ₱1.3 billion ((US$22.5 million) or ₱72,500 per square meter. This was significantly higher than the estimated cost of ₱470 million (US$9.2 million) or ₱25,620 per square meter, leading to allegations of overpricing and financial misconduct. [8][9]
References[edit]
- ^ "Approved Budget 2024" (PDF). Department of Education. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Makati Science High School Official Website". makatiscience.edu.ph. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ Bueza, Michael (August 5, 2017). "FAST FACTS: Makati Science High School". Rappler. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Silid sa Makati Science HS nasunog". ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ a b Alcober, Neil (August 11, 2023). "Public schools previously under Makati supervision turned over to Taguig". Daily Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ "DepEd takes supervision of EMBO schools in Makati-Taguig row". GMA News. August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ "DepEd: Taguig, Makati conclude 'orderly' transition of EMBO schools". CNN Philippines. January 15, 2024. Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Cayabyab, Mark Jayson (November 6, 2014). "Bondal: Makati Science High School building overpriced, too". Inquirer.net. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Legaspi, Amita (November 18, 2014). "Experts: Makati Science HS building construction should only cost P489M to P644M". GMA News Online. Retrieved April 25, 2024.