107-year-old College of the Holy Spirit of Manila to cease ops in 2022

The 107-year-old College of the Holy Spirit of Manila (CHSM) will cease operations at the end of school year 2021-2022, its administration announced Sunday, citing difficulties in ramping up enrollment exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Be it known that the College of the Holy Spirit of Manila will voluntarily cease operations at the end of AY 2021-2022. This timeline allows the School to graduate its current Grade 11 and 3rd Year College students,” CHSM said in a Facebook post. 

In a circular letter to parents, school administrators said “the challenges facing CHSM and the wider education sector have become increasingly complex” in the last 10 years.

CHSM said government policies on K-12, free tuition in state-run educational institutions, and the “significant increase in public school teachers' salaries compared to their private school counterparts” bogged down enrollment figures.

“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,” the school said.

“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 academic year 2021-2022.”

The school was established as a primary school by the Missionary Sisters Servant of the Holy Spirit in 1913, according to its website.

The Department of Education earlier said more than 800 private schools suspended their operations amid the pandemic.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News

The shutdown affected over 4,000 teachers.