The Schools Division of South Cotabato emerged from a strong desire of the majority to stand as one distinct school division to cater the needs of the fast-growing number of teachers, students/pupils in the Southern portion of the old Cotabato province. Cognizant of this great demand, Congress passed Republic Act 30555 in 1962 creating three separate school divisions: Cotabato I, Cotabato II and Cotabato III. The later comprises ten (10) municipalities of Koronadal, Banga, General Santos, Glan, Isulan, Kiamba, Maitum, Norala, Polomolok, and Tupi. The Division Office was constructed in Koronadal with Mr. Francisco San Andres as its first Superintendent. There were twelve (12) school districts: Banga North, Banga South, General Santos City, Glan, Isulan, Kiamba, Koronadal, Maitum, Norala, Polomolok, Tupi and Koronadal High School.
The Creation of the Province of South Cotabato by virtue of the Republic Act No.4849 on June 17, 1966, provided the specific provisions on the political and geographical boundaries of the two (2) provinces: Cotabato and South Cotabato. Consequently, the District of Isulan became part of Cotabato while the District of Tantangan is left to South Cotabato.
In the school year 1966-1967, the school population had increased considerably due to the influx of settlers from the other regions of the country. In the same school year, four (4) years after the creation of the Division of Cotabato III, there were 89,887 pupils and students as compared with that of the school year 1969-1970 with an enrolment of 84,295. With the increase of enrolment, the number of school officials and teachers increased from 2,667 in 1966-1967 to 2,860 in 1969-1970. Six (6) additional school districts supervised by principal In-charge augmented the 12 (twelve) school districts headed by district supervisors. Hence, by the school year 1967-1968, there were eighteen (18) school districts that were established in the Division of Cotabato III.
The educational administration and supervision of the Division of South Cotabato had a full blast development with the reassignment of Superintendent Mayantung Sindao in 1966, the retirement of Mr. Francisco San Andres as superintendent in 1968 and the retirement of Mr. Miralam C. Tillah as Superintendent in 1969 and with the assumption to office of Mr. Florencio A. Ello as Division Superintendent of Schools in 1969. By then, there were twenty (20) school districts: Koronadal East, Koronadal West, Banga North, Banga South, Tantangan, Tupi, Tampakan, Polomolok, General Santos North, General Santos South, Glan, Malapatan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum, Norala North, Surallah North, Surallah South; Provincial high school and 42 barrio high schools.
At the beginning of the school year 1970-1971, three new supervisory districts Banga East, Malungon ND Surallah Central was created thereby making a total f twenty-three (23) school districts. On November 11, 1970, however, the supervisory districts of General Santos South and General Santos West became the division of City Schools in General Santos City with then Academic Supervisor, Mr. Agustin R. Ferrariz, as Officer-In-Charge.
The Schools Division of South Cotabato was so active in confronting the challenge of the established standards in the administration and supervision of schools. There were then 15 district supervisors, 6 principals In-Charge, 2 secondary school principals and 26 elementary school principals.
