History
With the cessation of the hostilities that marked the end of the
Spanish American war in 1898, Filipino and American educators agreed
that the best way to rebuild a devastated nation was through the
establishment of a sound educational system.
Eight Normal schools were then established in the Philippines by
the Americans. One of them was the Zamboanga Normal School established
in 1918. As a secondary school, the ZNS offered a general academic
curriculum under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu primarily designed
to cater to the needs of cultural minorities in the provinces of
Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu, and Zamboanga.
In June 1921, the secondary normal curriculum of the Zamboanga Normal
School had to be phased out for lack of enrollees. It was re-opened
the following year and eventually producing its first batch of graduates
in 1926. Until the end of School Year 1939-40, the general secondary
academic and normal curricula continued to be simultaneously offered.
As a result of the opening of the Zamboanga City High School in SY
1940-41, the general secondary academic curriculum was discontinued.
The general secondary academic curriculum, however, was offered in
the college level. It was briefly disrupted with the outbreak of
the Second World War.
After the war, the school resumed operations enabling those who
started first year in the two-year collegiate normal curriculum before
the war to continue as sophomore students. In April, 1946 they were
awarded the Elementary Teacher's Certificate (E.T.C.) The secondary
normal curriculum was offered only during the summer term until 1952.
Upon its conversion into the Zamboanga Normal College on June 17,
1961 by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 3272, the ZNC was placed
under the direct supervision of the Bureau of Public Schools (BPS)
until its autonomy in 1963. Gradually, it started to offer new programs
new degree programs.
The amendment of RA 3272 on June 26, 1969 by RA 5492 resulted in
the conversion of the Zamboanga Normal School into the Zamboanga
State College (ZSC). Considering the demands of a growing population
in a rapidly changing society , then President Ferdinand E. Marcos
signed P.D. No. 1427 on June 10, 1978, marking the birth of the Western
Mindanao State University.
Since its conversion into a state university, three university presidents
have taken the helm of its leadership: Dr. Juanito A. Bruno, in an
acting capacity from 1977 to 1986; Dr. Bernabela L. Ko as first full-pledged
president from 1986 to 1991 and Dr. Erdulfo B. Fernando, who served
from 1991 to 1997. Today, WMSU has a total of 573 teaching and administrative
support staff catering to over 10,000 students.
WMSU has since gradually expanded to twelve (12) colleges and 3
institutes, offering various courses and major fields of specialization.
It has become the Center of Excellence (COE) and for Teacher Education
and Project for Basic Education (PROBE) Center, catering to the needs
of its socio-culturally pluralistic clientele. It has likewise etched
its name as a leader in science and technology and nursing education
while inching its way towards excellence in the liberal arts. |
