DOST eyes 10 new Philippine Science High School campuses to widen access

Ten more campuses are being pushed to open under the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) to accommodate more students who qualify for admission to the country’s premier science high school. 

Of the 31,636 students who passed the National Competitive Examination (NCE) last November, only 1,860 slots were available, far fewer than the number of qualified applicants, highlighting the urgency to establish more campuses under the PSHSS. 

“Bringing quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education closer to our youth is an investment in a future where every Filipino can help build a stronger, more inclusive nation through science and technology. In this vision of growth, no effort or investment is ever wasted,” PSHSS Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. exclaimed.

While more than 100,000 students take the PSHS entrance exam annually, at least 5,000 qualified passers are unable to secure slots due to limited capacity in existing campuses.

Each of the 16 PSHS campuses currently admits 90 to 120 students each year, except the main campus in Metro Manila, which accommodates 240 students.

The total number of campuses would rise to 26, raising the annual capacity to between 2,760 and 3,660 learners with the proposed expansion.

The enactment of the Expanded PSHS System Act, which was ratified by both houses of Congress last June and is now awaiting the President’s signature, will determine the opening of these new campuses.

Senate Bill No. 2974, authored and sponsored by Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, will allow up to two campuses per region, excluding Metro Manila but including the newly established Negros Island Region.

In a statement, PSHSS said, “The DOST–PSHS System and its stakeholders eagerly await the bill’s final approval, as it promises to bring more inclusive and accessible STEM education to Filipino youth across the country.” 

The specific locations of the new campuses have yet to be finalized.