The School of Saint Matthias was conceived by the late Fr. Estanislao Singson who with some prominent parishioners of Tumauini and other church members were consulted regarding the establishment of a Catholic school. They agreed that there was felt need for a Catholic school for the community to deepen the faith of the young parishioners. Engr. Joseph Hammond, a church leader offered his academic expertise to assist in the preparation of the plans and needed papers for application of the school. Father Singson presented the plan to Archbishop Teodolfo Domingo to establish a Catholic school and got a positive response.

 

The application for the operation of St. Matthias Institute was approved by the MECS, later called the Department of Education Culture and Sports and now called DepEd subsequently was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 1951.

 

The late Fr. Singson was the school’s first director and Engr. Hammond, its first principal. The school had lay teachers.

 

Initially, the classes were conducted in a spacious private house rented from one of the community’s affluent citizens while waiting for the construction of the school own building inside the church compound.

 

From 1953 to 1976 when the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters took over, the Augustinian Recollect Sisters administered the school. Through the initiative of the former, a school building with six classrooms, a library and an office was put up behind the Catholic church.

 

On January 8, 1990, the name of the institution was changed to School of Saint Matthias. From the time the Franciscan sisters administered the School, the Diocesan School Board managed it, the Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Miguel Purugganan being its chairman and Msgr. Marino Gatan its School Superintendent. All schools of the diocese are under the authority of the DSS, now called the IDSS.

 

The school year 1994-1995 shows an enrolment of 652 secondary students. The school personnel include a principal, school chaplain, a registrar, a treasurer, librarian, bookkeeper and a security guard.

 

In 1997, the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters left the school and a lay, Ms. Perla Luz Laddaran administered the operations of the school. Her administration lasted for three years. Thereby, in 2000 another lay, Miss Iluminada L. Nepomuceno, took over the administration until May 2013, serving the school for 31 years.

 

In 2001, a lay, Mrs. Rosalia A. Dalupang became the superintendent of the IDSS. However in 2003 the need for a supervisor for the Diocesan schools was felt. Thus, Mrs. Dalupang was appointed supervisor, and Rev. Fr. Angel B. Luga, Ph.D. became the superintendent.

 

In 2008, Most Rev. Joseph A. Nacua, OFM Cap D.D. was installed the new Bishop of the Diocese of Ilagan and became the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the IDSS.

 

In 2010, a former member of the IDSS Board of trustees, Rev. Fr. Francisco U. Uanan became the superintendent. Later, Rev. Uanan was succeeded by Sr. Dionisia Mendoza, SFIC.

 

As the new superintendent begins the S.Y. 2013-2014, so is the SSM. The new school principal, Rosemarie G. Pastores, M.A. was appointed. She joined the school personnel headed by Rev. Fr. Angel B. Luga, Ph.D. the school director since the school year 2011-2012.

 

As the school year 2014-2015 unfolds, the IDSS Board of Trustees appoints a new superintendent, Sr. Ruth A. Santiago, SFIC. She is currently in supervision of the six schools of the IDSS, one of which is the School of Saint Matthias.

 

The School of Saint Matthias which is formerly known as Saint Matthias Institute remains a known channel of quality education among catholic schools in the region.