The College of the Holy Spirit of Manila (CHSM) announced it would be closing its doors in 2020, citing the school’s difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHSM provincial leader Sr. Carmelita Victoria said in a letter, the private educational institution was closing due to the difficulties brought about by government policies on K-12 and competition from state colleges and universities with free tuition. The significant increase in public school teachers’ salaries also added to the school’s challenges.
“The recent COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation. The reduction or loss in family income, mobility restrictions and social distancing requirements, and the new demands of distance learning have adversely affected enrolment, not only in CHSM but in most private schools as well,” the letter read.
“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 this extremely difficult decision: to close CHSM at the end of the academic year 2021-2022,” it added.
College of the Holy Spirit of Manila held a series of town hall meetings over the weekend to inform stakeholders of its closure.
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College of the Holy Spirit of Manila to close in 2022
“We are committed to stand by you, our stakeholders, and assist you in every way we can make this transition as smooth as possible,” it said.
The College of the Holy Spirit of Manila, or simply CHSM, is a Catholic Co-Ed institution founded and is run by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in Manila, Philippines.
Founded in 1913, the College of the Holy Spirit Manila has established originally as Holy Ghost College through the invitation of then Manila Archbishop Jeremias Harty.
Last month, STI Education Services Group Inc. also closed seven of its schools and suspended the operation of five others due to low enrollment.
According to DepEd national data on enrollment, 22.36 million students enrolled in public schools as of September 21. The figures are 99.06 percent of the enrollment in 2019 at 22.5 million.