A Little School That Could

In AralMuna, we have always believed in the power of education. Of it being a great equalizer and a powerful catapult to up things around especially for the less privileged.

Our story for today summarizes all this with much heart and pride.

In an unpopular school in Bicol, Sorsogon State College (SSC) has produced  Top 1 and Top 2 board exam takers of mechanical engineering of 2011 September exam results. The two male graduates are sons of a tricycle driver and a farmer/fisherman.

Earlier this year, two other SSC graduates topped the electrical engineering board garnering the Top 1 and the Top 10. The school first made waves when in 2006, a graduate topped 8th rank in the electrical engineering exams.

About the SSC
SSC traces its root as a trade school in origin, in December 1993 it was elevated to a State College level. It charges P150/unit. A typical semester tuition fee would therefore average to P5000 or less than US$100.

In 2010, SSC received a national budget allocation of P93.64M. It also collected P44M from its almost 9,000 student population. 260 personnel are under its payroll. Due to this limited budget, 40 to 45 students  share in a laboratory suitable only for 20-30 students.

Source:

Little-known college tops engineering exams

By Juan Escandor, Jr.

Inquirer Southern Luzon

Permanently Scatterbrained