CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Teachers and students of Lope De Vega National High School will no longer worry about their computers getting defected due to environmental hazards. Secretary Florencio Abad has promised them a new computer building where they could properly install their computers.

Secretary Abad also pledge to provide the school with access to the Internet.

These were the Education Secretary’s “reward” to the remote school whose students ranked number one in the National Achievement Test (NAT) given last school year.

As told by Dr. Juanita F. Layon, assistant division superintendent, the students of LVNHS got the average rating of 87% in Science, and 91% in Math, besting students from all public schools in the country.

Secretary Abad was in the province on Dec. 2 and 3, holding dialogues with public school teachers, parents, and local government officials. In all of his speeches, he reiterated that one of his main reasons for visiting the province was the Lope De Vega National High School.

He said he wanted to know what made the small school rank higher than the rest, leaving behind even the highly supported and “hot like” schools in metro Manila. He commended the school for excelling despite its lack of facilities.

“I was curious… sabi ko gusto ko puntahan and eskwelahang iyan, gusto ko silang premyuhan. Your achievement has great effect to other schools. You give hope, and have proven that despite the limitation in resources it is possible to excel,” Abad said in his message during his 45-minute visit to Lope De Vega High School.

He expressed optimism that the school can sustain its place at the top. “ Sana hindi ito tsamba lang. We have to operate a systematic and sustainable good quality of education. We assure that we will provide with you the necessary technologies.”

It was learned that the “secret” to LVNHS’ success was the combined support of the teaching staff, the parents and the local government to their students. The school has highly efficient teachers who are mostly master’s degree holders, and who reportedly practice their profession at heart.

According to Vice Mayor Maria Custorio, the LGU of Lope De Vega pays for the tuition fees to provide free education to all their students, financing even their school projects, and also supports the Parents Teachers Community Association (PTCA).

“It is the priority of our mayor (Linda Cinco) to provide scholarship ton all our students,” Custorio said, as she cited their “SILHAG” (Scholarship, Infrastructure, Livelihood, Health, Agricultural productivity and Good governance) program of government.

Meanwhile, Rey Bulawan, head teacher of Lope De Vega High School, was teary-eyed when he acknowledge their “reward” from Sec. Abad. He said the secretary’s act of giving such special attention to their school only showed that he was “man of respect.”

“We are much inspired and more motivated to work for excellence despite our limited resources,” Bulawan said.