The planned turnover of the Philippine School Doha’s (PSD) new campus in Abu Hamour on January 2017 “is on track,” according to principal Dr Alexander Acosta.
“Construction work is going according to schedule,” said Acosta, who expressed optimism that PSD students will be able to use the 14,374sqm lot, which will house modern school facilities, when the new academic year opens next June.
But Acosta was also quick to say that in the event of a delay in the turnover of the facility, “the PSD has prepared contingency plans to guarantee that school operations and classes will not be disrupted.”
“Rest assured that we will still maintain the tradition of service and excellence for our kids and the same quality education that our children can get once we transfer to our new school. We can assure our parents that their children are in good and capable hands,” Acosta told Gulf Times.
The school official said the grand inauguration of the new campus will coincide with PSD’s silver anniversary in October 2017. He said among the VIPs to be invited to the event include President Rodrigo R Duterte and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“According to people whom we have requested to assist us in inviting President Duterte and former president Arroyo, it still too early but maybe this coming December we will be sending out our invitations to them and to other VIPs.
“While the turnover of the school facility will be in January, we will celebrate simultaneously the grand inauguration of the new school and PSD’s 25th anniversary, which is why we are hoping that these VIPs will be able to attend this momentous and historic occasion,” he said.
Prior to the grand inauguration, Acosta said parents of PSD students will be invited to view the new facility during a “soft opening” once the school facility is turned over to the PSD administration.
The new building is expected to accommodate more than 4,000 students. Some of the facilities will include computer, speech, physics, and chemistry laboratories, a 3,000-seater gymnasium, audio visual room, and mini-theatre, as well as a bigger library and several sports facilities, including a swimming pool.
Aside from a new campus, Acosta said the PSD will bear a new name – Philippine Science School Doha (PSSD) – once it transfers operations to Abu Hamour next year.
Acosta said the institutional accreditation granted by the Qatar National School Accreditation (QNSA) realises PSD’s vision to become the first Philippine science school in the Middle East.