For two Catholic prelates, the decision of the College of the Holy Spirit Manila to cease operations is understandable especially in view of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
"I respect their decision, I know that it is not easy to run a school during the pandemic," Nueva Ecija Bishop Roberto Mallari of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education said in an interview Tuesday.
"I respect their decision and I know it has been after much deliberation, consultation and prayer," Archdiocese of Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said.
Mallari said the new normal brought about by the pandemic really posed many challenges to schools this year.
"There are so many things to take into consideration, of course the invitation to start doing things through the internet… Thus we have to adapt really to the new normal," he said.
"I want to appreciate those who dared to accept the challenge to face the situation and tried to open the school year 2020-2021," added Mallari.
"I know that this school year is a special year for school administrators, teachers and students because it will bring with it very important, essential and strong teachings," he said.
In an official statement dated November 22, the CHSM announced that it will voluntarily cease operations at the end of Academic Year 2021-2022.
"This timeline allows the School to graduate its current Grade 11 and 3rd Year College students. Therefore, Grade 12 and 4th Year College will be operational, but Levels K to Grade 11, and 1st to 3rd Year College will not be opened for AY 2021-2022," CHSM said.
According to CHSM, other schools of the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) will continue to operate as they are not affected by the decision as they are separately incorporated.
In a separate letter addressed to stakeholders dated October 28, the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit said the challenges facing CHSM and the wider education sector in the last 10 years have become increasingly complex, making it difficult for CHSM to "attract new students and ramp up enrolment to make the School viable."
It added that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has "exacerbated" the situation.
Read more: 10 Catholic schools announce closure due to COVID-19