WHILE the Department of Education has recognized the need for special arts education in the schools with its establishment of secondary level schools with special program for the arts in various regions, meeting the goals of the arts program has been and still is, extremely s
difficult.
The number of qualified faculty members, lack of instruments, equipment and facilities are only some of the major problems in the operation of these Program for the Arts schools, and these in turn could also be traced to limited operational funds.
Thus, the need for a secondary level training center for the arts, which is strategically located and more accessible to its stakeholders, faculty, parents, and guardians and where in-house arrangements can be made optional for its prospective students. A Regional High School for the Arts is indeed more attractive to prospective stakeholders and will significantly increase the number of highly talented Filipino youngsters who can be trained in this special center.
Almost five years ago, it was envisioned that the region and Luzon Cluster be nurtured by the people's pride in their artistic and cultural traditions. The proposal to establish a Regional High School for the Arts in Balanga City which is seen to become a national center for excellence and leadership in the arts, research, training, education and support system has been started, and with the strong support of local government officials led by the Honorable Jose Enrique S. Garcia III.
Through Republic Act No. 11190, the Bataan High School for the Arts is established as the second specialized public high school in the Philippines offering arts-focused education after the Makiling-based Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA).
The School aims to develop artistically gifted and talented students by implementing a special secondary education curriculum and support programs committed to the conservation and promotion of the Filipino artistic and cultural traditions. This is also a Center for Arts and Design of the Senior High School Program among the twenty school divisions of Central Luzon. Through the establishment of the BHSA, DepEd will be able to help select, stimulate, and prepare students for a career in the arts and cultural work who will serve the region and the country.