Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Rizalino Tortosa yesterday challenged the new principal of the Negros Occidental High School, Mario Amaca, to take the lead in motivating the more than 6,000 students of NOHS to achieve a better ranking in the annual National Achievement Test, and if possible, top the national examinations.

Tortosa installed Amaca yesterday, replacing Nilda Monge, who retired last year. Before Amaca’s installation, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Luisito Escalona had been designated as officer-in-charge of the school.

Amaca, 47, said he will do his best to go beyond the achievements of his predecessors.

He admitted that NOHS has to work on its NAT ranking as it has been lagging behind other schools in the country in the past years.

Amaca appealed to all internal and external stakeholders of NOHS, the alumni and PTCA, to lend him their support as he admits that the task to improve and develop the school and its students is Herculean.

NOHS, alma mater of prominent personalities like Gawad Kalinga prime mover Tony Meloto, United Nations official Rafael Salas, and transportation mogul Ricardo Yanson, maintains today 29 sections in first and second year, 30 in third year, 24 in fourth year.

Amaca said academic excellence will be his priority, work for the strengthening of the sports program of the school and maximize the use of the area in Paglaum Sport Complex that belongs to NOHS, which is one of the landmarks in Bacolod City, he said. He will work on making the school’s landscape and façade more attractive, he said.

The new principal will bring to NOHS his 14 years of experience in teaching. He started as a classroom teacher at the Pahilanga National High School and later served as teacher-in-charge of Baga-as National High School. He also served as principal of Cabacungan National High School and San Enrique National High School before moving to the Doña Enriquieta Memorial National High School in 2001.

Among those who attended his installation yesterday were PTCA president Madeline Diaz, Alumni president Navy Capt. Jose Garcia, and Fr. Ernesto Salvador.*NAB

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