DAWAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Location: Barangay Dawan, Mati, Davao Oriental
Background:
Dawan is one of the sixteen barangays of Mati, the capital town of Davao Oriental. It is located eighteen kilometers away from Mati and is accessible by both land and water transportation for twenty to thirty minutes. Fishing and farming are the primary sources of livelihood. As the population in the Barangay grow, so as the basic needs of the people. One of which is education. Since the Barangay is located kilometers away from the nearest Secondary school, it becomes a struggle for parents to send their children to continue their studies.
In response to this pressing need, the Barangay passed a resolution to start the operation of Dawan Barangay High School on school year 1966-1967. However, it had not been a smooth road for the School. A lot of problems had to be faced. Eventually, due to financial constraints, the School was closed in 1970 just after four (4) school years from its establishment.
But this did not stop the people from fighting for something they believe is of utmost necessity not just for them, but for the generations to come. It was through their request and effort that the School was reopened in 1972. From 1972 to 1974, the School was administered by Mrs. Corazon M. Malvar. The administration was then handed down to Dr. Rudy K. Mudjakate in school year 1974-1976. Mrs. Azucela V. Mangosong, then the principal of Dawan Central Elementary School, also administered the Barangay High School from 1979 to 1985. After her retirement, she left the administration of the school to Mrs. Erlinda A. Mangosong from school year 1986-1987. From 1972 to 1987, the Barangay High School only shared school facilities such as classrooms and other equipments with the Dawan Central School.
The major step took place upon the approval of Republic Act 6665 otherwise known as “Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988”. Through this, the School was nationalized and became Dawan National High School. The supervision was then separated from Mrs. Erlinda A. Mangosong. Mrs. Alicia Rabuya Astonomo was designated as Officer-In-Charge in September 1988. She then became the full-fledge Secondary School Principal from SY 2002 up to the present.
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| Donated by Holcim Philippines-Davao |
To date, the School has a total land area of 11,208 sq.m., which is acquired through the donation from the Barangay Council of Dawan. Ninety percent of the land is hilly while the remaining 10 is plane. As the School continued to grow, assistance from the government and different agencies poured in. Classrooms were built through the initiative of Congresswoman Thelma Z. Almario. Science and Computer laboratories were constructed through the donation from the School’s stakeholders.
At present, the School is currently serving four hundred seventy (470) students with eighteen (18) members of the faculty and staff. It has its annex at Macambol National High School.
With its humble beginning, the road had been easy for Dawan National High School. It has its share of hardships and triumphs as proved by the awards and recognition it had garnered both locally and nationally. But the School would not just sit on its laurels. It will continue to strive to bring out the best in each student, aiming them will all become productive citizens of our country.
