VII.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE OF PRACTICE TEACHING 18

OSMEA COLLEGES: A Historical Perspective

Osmea Colleges stands as the realization of the dream of its founder, Dr. Anacleto R.
Pelio, Sr., to bring higher education within the reach of Masbateos, who could not
afford to send their children to other places for a college education.

The school was founded in June 1948, holding classes in a rented building, at the
corner of Mabini and Danao Streets in the capital town of Masbate. It was first known as
Osmea Junior College, and shortly thereafter changed to Osmea Colleges in honor of
then President Sergio Osmea, Sr. whose ideals, visions, and aspirations became the
epitome of what the school stands today.

The school initially offered education subjects leading to the Elementary Teachers
Certificate (E.T.C.) and Associate in Arts (A.A.).

In 1949, Osmea Colleges purchased an eight-hectare sprawling land where it

constructed an Administration Building, together with a Physical Education and
Basketball Court Plaza, to meet the increased enrolment of students.

In 1965, Osmea Colleges pioneered and operated the first Radio Station (DYVP) in the
province. It linked Masbate to the rest of the Philippine archipelago. It gave Masbateos
listening pleasure to music, culture and arts as well as giving them up to the minute
reports of news and events as it unfolds.

From its humble beginnings, offering courses in Teacher Education, Osmea Colleges
expanded to offer a complete basic
education (Elementary and High School) to cater to the needs of Masbates youth.

Among its tertiary course offerings to date include Liberal Arts with majors in
Broadcasting, Journalism, Mathematics, English, History, Political Science, Home
Economics; Arts and Sciences with majors in Accountancy, Business Administration,
Entrepreneurship, Criminology, Computer Education (One-Year Programming Course,
Two-Year Programming and Technology Course, Four-Year Computer Science Course;
Short courses in Computer Softwares, Business Bookkeeping, Accounting for non-
accountants.

It also offers review class for Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) and
Criminology Board Examination.

Osmea Colleges also boast of a strong Graduate School Program in Master of Arts in
Educational Management (M.A.Ed.), Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), Master in
Public Administration (M.P.A.), Master in Business Administration (M.B.A.), and a Post
Graduate Program in Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

It is the first educational institution in the Province of Masbate that offered computer
science courses and access to internet for its students and faculty. Internet use is
likewise integrated in all courses offered in Osmea Colleges. Aside from its computer
laboratory, it has an Internet research center & wifi-zone available to its faculty and
students.

Since 1948, the college has continued to expand and develop its facilities to keep up
with the latest educational and technological advancement within the reach of the
Masbateos.

Osmea Colleges also operates RN 107.1 FM Station as part of its laboratory for
communication arts students.