Construction of new Philippine school building starts

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

The Philippine School of Doha (PSD) has started the construction of its new building at Abu Hamour after getting the loan approval from Ahli Bank recently, PSD principal Alexander Acosta told Gulf Times.

The Philippine community school also announced that ambassador Wilfredo Santos has been invited to take part in the laying of the foundation on Friday at 5am at the plot beside Pak Shama School.

Some members of the Filipino community and Parents-Teachers Association officials also confirmed their presence at the event.

“The long wait for a new building is going to be over soon," Acosta said.

He added that part of the activity on Friday will be the reading of the commemorative tablet which will be led by the school’s board of trustees.

Ahli Bank approved QR108mn out of the QR123mn total funds needed for the construction of the new PSD building.

About the remaining QR15mn, Acosta noted that they can raise the amount through “wise budgeting” of school funds. PSD is a non-stock, non-profit institution.

The board of trustees also assured parents that the school will not increase its tuition fees (Grades 1 to 10) while paying the bank loan.

According to the school’s Task Force PSD building, the new PSD campus, to be constructed on a 14,375-sq m plot, is expected to be finished in two years.

“With a bigger campus and new facilities, we will be able to host bigger events and cultural activities such as the Asean (Association of South East Asian Nation) Day which we host annually,” Acosta said.

PSD officials were prompted to seek a bigger area for the construction of the new campus to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of Filipino children who want to study in Doha.

Once built and fully operational, PSD will be renamed Philippine Science School of Doha since it was granted an institutional accreditation for three years in June from the Qatar National School Accreditation unit for private schools.

Aside from being the first Philippine science high school in the Middle East, Acosta noted that the accreditation also means that they have reached a higher level of education standards. “We aspire to produce highly competitive graduates.”

In 1992, PSD started with only 33 students and the number grew year after year.

From about 2,800 students currently studying at the old campus in Saad Bin Surara, Old Murror, Al Messilah Area, Acosta said the new campus which will have 300 classrooms can accommodate more than 4,000.