Type Public-Vocational Principal Dr. Eladio H. Escolano Nickname Rocesians Color Blue and White | Established September 1951 Grades 7 to 12 Founded September 1951 | |
Affiliation Department of Education (Philippines) Address Roces Avenue Corner Scout Tuazon, Diliman, Quezon City, 1103 Metro Manila, Philippines | ||
Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology High School (DARSSTHS), located along Don A. Roces Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines, is the only science-technology high school in the Quezon City (NCR) with the Strengthened Technical-Vocational Education Program (STVEP) curriculum.
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Founded in 1951, the school has always enjoyed a strong participation in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the MTAP Math Challenge, the District, Division, Regional, and National Schools Press Conference and, most notably, the Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines (STEP) Skills Competition.
History
Situated on a lot donated by the family of the late Don Alejandro Roces Sr. (former councilor and newspaper publisher) along Roces Avenue in Obrero, Quezon City, the Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology High School had modest beginnings in the early 1950s as an annex of another high school, which catered exclusively to first- and second-year students.
In 1964, Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Annex found its footing and became a complete high school at the end of the school year and graduated 34 students from the original batch. Following the next two years of development, the school operated on a two-track curriculum: the College Preparatory and Vocational system. During these years, some outstanding male teachers were granted scholarships by the Colombo Plan and were trained consequently in New Zealand.
In 1969, the first batch of students who successfully completed the requirements of the four-year secondary vocational curriculum graduated. This year also marked the graduation of the last batch of students under the college preparatory curriculum.
During the school year 1970–1971, DARSSTHS only offered the vocational curriculum: Courses or shopwork were allotted three hours daily while the academic subjects were allotted credit units based on the New Secondary Trade & Trade Technical Education Curriculum as prescribed in Circular #16, s. 1958 as amended by Circular #37, s. 1960.
After two years, the Revised Secondary Education Program replaced the above-cited curriculum for Trade and Industrial Education Schools in accordance with BE Circular No. 8, s. 1973. Emphasis centered on broad exploration of occupational areas with the aim of providing students with a wide range of sampling of clusters of occupations. Academic subjects taught were the same as those in the general high schools. An additional subject was Trade Drawing and Blueprint Reading starting in the second year level. For Shopwork, vocational offerings were exploratory in the first year level. Starting in their second year, the students were given further training in their chosen field of specialization.
On September 15, 1981, the Hon. Onofre D. Corpuz, then Minister of Education & Culture, approved the change in name of the school to Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Vocational High School in response to the felt need of the time: The government’s thrust on total manpower development and in response to the clamor of the city government to have a vocational high school in Quezon City. This move made the school special on account of its curricular offerings.
A new phase in the development of the school took place when the former principal, Cresencio M. Viernes, spearheaded the conversion to a Science-Technology High School. On August 8, 2000, Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Vocational High School was officially converted to Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology High School through Ordinance No. SP-929, s. 2000.
Admission
Admission to DARSSTHS is through a competitive entrance examination. The screening consists of tests in Verbal, Abstract Reasoning, English, Science, and Mathematics. To be eligible for admission, applicants must have at least a grade of 85% in major subjects (English, Science and Math) and at least 83% in minor subjects in Grade V and VI. Successful applicants must belong in the top 400 examinees. The third and final stage of the process is an interview.
Scholarship program
The Adopt-A-Scholar Program is a collaborative outreach program of the school and benevolent individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations. It aims to provide financial assistance to economically disadvantaged students who are performing well in school.
The beneficiary must:
The benefactor can be anyone who is willing to provide financial to his/her beneficiary for at least one year for the following:
The assistance amounts to at least Php300,000/year. The committee will give it to the scholar weekly (Php75/wk).
The Scholarship Committee is composed of five selfless teachers headed by the principal. Their duties include the following: