NORTHERN MINDANAO SCHOOL OF FISHERIES

The Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries was created in 1961 thru Republic Act No. 685 starting as secondary fishery institution with the aim to produce trained and educated young fishermen, fish farmers, and fish processors. By 1976 Fishery Technology Course was offered to provide the need for skilled workers in the Fishery industries of Agusan del Norte and Caraga Region.

In 1994, the DECS revised the Fishery Technology course into a hands-on oriented curriculum. NMSF became a TESDA- administered school in 1997. This effected the addition of short-term courses, Data Encoder and Food and Beverage Service Attendant. The following year, two more courses were added namely: Computer Programmer and Automotive Fishery Equipment Mechanic. This significantly increased the enrolment.

On April 19,2005 a Memorandum of Agreement was done between the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Magallanes province of Agusan del Norte through its Municipal Mayor, Hon. Cesar C. Cumba,Jr. and the Vocational School Administrator II of Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries , Mr. Felipe A. Maneja II, establishing the NMSF- Magallanes Campus and started its first operation in School Year 2005-2006 with these four curricular program offering: Fish Preservation, Food and Beverage Service Attendant, Computer Programmer and Automotive and Fishery Equipment Mechanics.

In 2007, the school adopted the Competency- Based Curriculum for its Distinctive Area of Competence (DAC) Aquaculture Technician Course and its allied programs. Under this, a self-paced approach of training delivery and assessment strategy was implemented as mandated by TESDA. With this, NMSF registered its regular program offerings and offered the following: Aquaculture NC II, Food Processing NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Personal Computer Operations NC II, Automotive Electrical Component Services Lending to Automotive Servicing NC II and Gas Engine Tune-up leading to Automotive Servicing NC II.

For the year 2008, the school gave big priority in the courses and scholarship programs offered under the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Training for Work Scholarship Program (PGMA-TWSP). These provide opportunity for the trainees to learn skills and even venture in entrepreneurial activities. The training programs under the PGMA-TWSP are: Household Services NC II; and Language Skills Institute such as English Proficiency, Finishing Course for Call Center Agents NC II, Arabic Language and Culture, and Korean Language and Culture.

In the year 2009, the NMSF enrolment boosted due to the impulsive existence of the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program.

NMSF has just recently offered the Trainers’ Methodology Level 1 Course in addition to the existing training programs: Aquaculture NC II, Computer Hardware Servicing NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Food Processing NC II, Household Services, Gas Engine Tune-up leading to Automotive Servicing NC II and Automotive Electrical Components leading to Automotive Servicing NC II.

All courses offered by NMSF are registered under UTPRAS of TESDA

The Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries is geared to uphold its distinctiveness as the Center of Excellence in the field of Aquaculture in Caraga Region. It is expected to contribute towards the attainment of the national goals for food security, poverty alleviation and rural development.

The school is located at Barangay Matabao, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. It is situated along the National Highway, about 500 meters away from the Poblacion. Furthermore, it is situated strategically along the coastline of Butuan City, a very rich fishing ground and accessible to any transportation.

It has a total land area of 10.64 hectares; 5.14 hectares of which is the school site and the remaining five point five (5.5) hectares is devoted for the fishpond supplied with sufficient source of clean water and of good soil type suitable to produce quality bangus, tilapia and prawns for commercial, research, and educational purposes. Aside from fishponds, the school has fresh water hatchery and brackish water hatchery.

Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF) as a TESDA-administered school has been keeping up with the recent time’s demand of providing relevant, qualitative and accessible technical-vocational education and training to the people of the community as well as the neighbouring municipalities of the Caraga Region.

NMSF envisions to become an institution dedicated to excellence in fishery education and training. Its mandate is to develop quality middle-level manpower through its technical-vocational fishery education and allied curricular offerings.

NMSF as a recipient of the Commitment Level (Bronze Award) Accreditation by the Philippine Quality Awards System has become the Center of Excellence in Aquaculture NC II and has been accredited as TESDA Assessment Center in 7 Qualification Titles: Aquaculture NC II, Food Processing NC II, Computer Hardware Servicing NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Household Services NC II Automotive Servicing NC II and Massage Therapy NC II.

Being identified as regional center in fishery with highly qualified committed and adequate number of faculty and staff, the school can help in the government’s efforts to address its thrusts on food security, poverty alleviation and rural development.

In consonance with the vision, mission of the institution, the following major thrusts and concerns will be pursued: Income Generating Projects; Curriculum Development; Faculty and Staff Development Program; Support Services Development; Extension Services and Physical Facilities Development.