INANUNSYO ng College of the Holy Spirit Manila na magsasara na ito matapos ang academic year 2021-2022.

Sa isang liham sa mga stakeholder na may petsang October 28, sinabi ng Mission Congregation of the Servants ng Holy Spirit na ang 107-year-old institution ay nahaharap sa maraming pagsubok sa nakalipas na dekada kung saan naging mahirap para sa kanila ang makahikayat ng mga bagong estudyante at pataasin ang enrollment.

“After consultation with representatives of our stakeholders, and a deep and prayerful process of discernment, we are now even more convinced that the Holy Spirit is speaking clearly to us through the signs of the times, compelling us to make extremely difficult decision: to close CHSM at the end of academic year (AY) 2021-2022,” pahayag ni Sr. Carmelita Victoria, Provincial Leader ng CHSM.

Inisa-isa ni Victoria ang mga suliraning kanilang kinakaharap sa nagdaang 10 taon. Ayon sa kanya, noon pa ma’y nahihirapan na silang makapagpataas ng enrollment bunga ng sali-saliwang pagbabago sa kontekstong panlipunan ng Filipinas, partikular ng Maynila.

Nariyan ang polisiya ng gobyerno sa K-12, ang patuloy na pagiging libre ng matrikula sa state colleges and universities, local universities and colleges, at state-run technical and vocational institutions, at mas mataas na sahod ng mga guro sa pampublikong paaralan kumpara sa pribado.

Bukod sa pagiging paaralang pinatatakbo ng simbahan, ang pagiging pribadong institusyon ay lubhang mahirap umano sa panahon ngayon. Dagdag pa niya, ang mahabang listahan nila ng suliranin ay dinoble pa ng krisis pangkalusugang dulot ng Covid19.

“The recent Covid19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation,” pagbibigay-diin ni Victoria.

“The reduction of loss in family income, mobility restrictions and social distancing requirements, and the new demands of distance learning have adversely affected enrollment, not only in CHSM, but in most private schools as well,” sabi pa niya.

Matapos ang academic year 2021-2022 ay magsasara ang CHSM para mabigyan ng sapat na panahon ang Grade 11 at 3rd year college students na makapagtapos. Gayunpaman, hindi na sila tumanggap ng bagong mag-aaral mula Kinder hanggang Grade 11 at 1st hanggang 3rd year undergraduate simula 2020-2021.

Nangako naman ang pamunuan ng paaralan na tutulungan ang lahat ng mag-aaral, magulang, at pakuldad, partikular yaong maghahandang lumipat ng eskuwelahan.

“To our dear students and their parents, we ask for your patience and cooperation as we prepare concrete plans for students’ transfer to our sister schools or other schools according to the specific circumstances of the student and the requirement of regulatory bodies,” nakasaad pa sa liham.

“To our dedicated faculty and staff, we ask for your trust that we will fulfill what is legal, moral and just in the process of disengagement.”

“To our alumni, we appeal to your understanding that all is not lost, for you remain to be in the living legacy of the School – to your progeny and to the many people whose lives you have touched all these years through the spirit of Truth in Love.”

Dating kilala sa pangalang Holy Ghost College, ang CHSM ay itinayo noong 1913 bilang isang all-girls school. Bahagi ito ng Mendiola Consortium kasama ang Centro Escolar University, San Beda University, La Consolacion College, at Saint Jude Catholic School.

Taong 2005 sila nagsimulang tumanggap ng mga lalaking estudyante at 2006 naman nagbukas ang kanilang college department.