Education in Samar

Although it suffered economic hardships in the past, the province of Samar has been, thanks to the effort of its citizens and local government officials, experiencing a boost, and in no small part has this been due to the efforts put in the education sector. As the standards of the colleges and universities have improved, so too the working conditions and proficiency of its people.

Christ the King College

Established under the name Colegio de San Vicente de Paul sometime in 1905, it was the very first Catholic school in Samar and today as Christ the King still one of the most widely respected.

From 1905 to the 1930s, the Christ the King College (still known by its old name) was run and managed successfully by the clergy, and expanded rapidly. However, World War II forced the school to put a halt to its activities. It was reopened two years after the war. However, a fire that broke out in 1952 destroyed most of the College. But it was able to recover, and by the 1970s had established itself as one of the leading schools in Samar.

Today Christ the King offers several diverse courses and degrees to its students, including Accountancy, Nursing, the Arts and Sciences, and several degrees related to teaching and computer technologies.

St. Mary's College

Beginning in 1912, St. Mary's College has become one of the most popular schools in the Philippines with branches sp[read all over the archipelago, including Samar.

Even during its formative years, St. Mary's College had distinguished itself by offering only the finest courses available, and during the 1930s, was among the very few that offered courses in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Education. It was also the very first school to reopen its doors following the end of World War II in 1845. After the war, the College grew from strength to strength.

Among the academic degrees available in St. Mary's College are BS Nursing, Basic Education, Nursing Assistant Program, Music & the Arts, Teacher Certification Program, Caregiver, and Bachelors Degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education.

Samar State University

Samar State University is the only one of its kind in Samar, the rest all beign colleges. There are three campuses, one in Paranas and two in Catbalogan.

The university was created in 1912 and was known as the Samar Trade School. Although it began as a secondary school, it began offering curriculums after a short while, including Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology. During the 1980s,the school was rechristened the Samar State Polytechnic College and its expansion continued with the addition of other degrees such as Fisheries.

In 2004 the Samar Polytechnic College was renamed into the Samar State University. Among the graduate studies are PhDs in Technology Management, and Educational Management; there are Masters Degrees in Vocational Education, the Arts, Elementary Education, Technician and Engineering.

Samar State University also offers Bachelors of Science degrees in Computer Engineering, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Nursing, Industrial Education and a host of IT related courses (Bachelor of Information Technology, BS in IT, College of Technology etc).

STI College Samar

STI (Systems Technology Institute), one of the leading proponents of computer education in the Philippines has been extending its reach to various parts of the country, including Samar.

STI College Samar offers the same premium standards of quality education in the province as it does in the National Capital Region. Although emphasis is placed on Computer Science and Information Technology, there are several alternatives to choose from, including, but not limited to business degrees, health care (including Nursing), Engineering, and Education.

As the potential of the province to be a business powerhouse continues to be realized, the number of educational facilities will not just be maintained, but flourish. For the people of this once impoverished province, these developments are truly a welcome change.