Dumaguete: The Department of Education (DepEd) here is adopting the enhanced curriculum for the newly inaugurated Calenica Gono Pal Technical-Vocational School, an official said on Thursday. The school, located in Barangay Balugo in this capital city of Negros Oriental, is the first 'stand-alone' senior high school in the province, according to Dr. Juditha Mapue, DepEd-Dumaguete Division assistant schools superintendent.

According to Philippines News Agency, a 'stand-alone' school means that it only caters to the last two tiers of senior high. "It is just a school for Grades 11 and 12, as all the other senior high schools are within a secondary school, meaning, they can be found on the same campus that also has Grades 7 to 10," Dr. Mapue explained.

The Calenica Gono Pal Technical-Vocational School initially has enrollees coming from Piapi High School, Junob High School, and Taclobo High School who desire to enroll in the specialization offered by DepEd. It also accepts enrollees from outside of this capital city, such as nearby Bacong town and even from Siquijor province.

The tech-voc specialization offered by the school includes dressmaking, shielded metal arc work (welding), electrical installation, domestic refrigeration, and air conditioning. Dr. Mapue stated that the enhanced senior high school curriculum means fewer subjects to give learners more time for immersion in the specialization of their choice, addressing the previous congestion in the SHS curriculum.

Currently, the new school accommodates 120 learners for both Grades 11 and 12, as only the second floor is utilized pending the completion of the first floor. Dr. Mapue mentioned that they expect more enrollees in the future.

The school was officially blessed and inaugurated Wednesday afternoon with key DepEd officials, Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, and the Pal family, who donated the lot, in attendance.