Zamboanga del Norte National High School

Introduction

The Zamboanga del Norte National High School (ZNNHS) is a public high school under the Department of Education of the Philippines located in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. It has two campuses one. ZNNHS Main Campus is located in Gen.Luna Street, Estaka, Dipolog City while the Annex Campus is located in Turno, Dipolog City, Philippines. The curricula offered by the school are the following: Basic Education Curriculum (BEC), Department of Science and Technology - Engineering and Science Education Program (DOST-ESEP), Special Program for Sports, Special Program for the Arts, Technical Vocational Education, and BP-OSA for out of school youths.

History

Starting from pioneering class of only fifty fourth year student to the 3,521 enrollees at the start of since SY 1983-1984, Zamboanga del Norte National High School’s humble takeoff can be traced back to the early post-war time – 1946.

Due to the populace’s insistent clamor for higher education, this caused them to travel to nearby island provinces of Negros and Cebu, the provincial government of Zamboanga Peninsula, trough ex-Governenor Felipe B. Azcuna, authored the transfer of Zamboanga Provincial High School, then operating in the erstwhile capital town of Zamboanga (now Zamboanga City), to his hometown in Dipolog, thus beginning the chain of efforts.

On its way to growth and development with DepEd’s Thrusts on value-oriented curriculum and the current trends in humanistic education, the school has been challenge was met head on by the institution as proven by the numerous honors and awards received in various government thrusts in Education, Music, Sports, Arts, Green Revolution, Nutrition, and other extra curricular activities.

But the main drawback lies on its dearth of physical facilities. Since its first hosting of the 1964 Mindanao Athletic Meet, the school has been the venue of a series of local, regional, and National sports fest.

Then came the 1982 Palarong Pambansa on March 14-20, which caused an almost overnight face-lifting of the Zamboanga del Norte Sports Complex, where the school is located although negotiations for its possible donation form the provincial government are still in the making since its nationalization, and so went the demolition of 46 concert classrooms and the administration building.

While the ZN Sports Complex may be the best in the region [during that time] , the replacement of the lost classrooms at the back of the three grandstands remains s faint promise.

Since the opening, the Zamboanga del Norte National High School is under the jurisdiction of the Division of Zamboanga del Norte; the was transferred to the Division of Dipolog City per Republic Act 8174, otherwise known as the General Appropriations Act of 1996 for all budgetary transactions.

Due to the influx of students from neighboring towns and the City of Dapitan, the school needed more space, more rooms for its use.

Through the efforts of Mrs. Patricia G. Ratilla, one of the faculty members of the school, ownership of a lot in Turno, which is a property of the National Government for the establishment of the City Normal College, was transferred to ZNNHS through a bill authored by the then Congressman Ernesto S. Amatong. Thus the existence of ZNNHS Turno Campus today.

A picture from ZNNNHS' website.

The Principal

What made this school what it is now – Zamboanga del Norte National High School per P.D. 1050 dated December 1, 1977 – brings us to the achievements of dedicated school administrators, who more than did their best to mould the present institution, namely: Buenaventura Yason, 1946-1952; Primitivo Adan, 1952-1962; Lilia Hamac, 1962-1981; Francisco Gonzales (Ex-officio), 1981-1983; Catalina Santiago Sulit, 1983-1994; Anesia S. Ochotorena (OIC), March 15, 1994-June 10, 1998; Benigno D. Evardos, 1998 – August 12, 2000; Sultan Pangsayan T.Radi, Sr., Septamber 7, 2000-2008; and Elegio C. Ellema.

Mr. Elegio C. Ellema retired recently thus ZNNHS is managed by the Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Teresita Cascolan. The Deputy OIC for the Main Campus is Ms. Fatima Y. Acosta, ZNNHS Head for ALS; while for the Turno Campus, Mrs. Dafrosa V. Galang, Head Teacher for Filipino.

Mr. Elegio C. Ellema