The appointment of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara brings renewed hope for reforms aimed at improving the quality of schools and the well-being of teachers and students.
The private sector is poised to assist, as demonstrated by the SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) of the SM Group.
Education champion
A champion of the cause since the leadership of its late founder, the taipan Henry Sy, SM Foundation recently highlighted the country’s deficit of classrooms and its ongoing efforts to help fill this gap.
“To date, in collaboration with the Department of Education, SMFI has built and turned over 108 school buildings and 366 classrooms, benefiting 18,300 students,” Deborah Pe-Sy, executive director of SM Foundation, said in a statement.
Classroom backlog
Data from the Department of Education showed over 20 million student enrollments nationwide, with more than three million coming from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
“Despite these numbers, the country faced significant challenges with a reported deficit of approximately 150,000 classrooms,” SM Foundation said.
Thousands of scholars
According to Pe-Sy, SM Foundation has aided 4,214 scholars.
“SMFI’s scholarship program serves as a catalyst for change, not only supporting scholar-beneficiaries but also breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty,” she said.
Upon graduation, it also organizes exclusive job fairs in collaboration with SM Group’s human resources departments.
Success story
One of these success stories is Rosalie Macaspac, an SM scholarship program alumna and Special Education (SPED) teacher for 21 years.
Raised by a single, bedridden mother and supported by her family’s efforts selling steamed rice cakes, Macaspac has also dedicated herself to advocating for the welfare of deaf learners.
With a scholarship from SM Foundation, she finished college and worked at the SM head office as a stepping stone to fulfill her dream of teaching at the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay.
“SM Foundation has inspired me to give back to a special community and commit myself to being an effective SPED teacher,” Macaspac said.
Efficient support
SM Foundation has also streamlined its college scholarship application process to ensure nationwide accessibility and efficiency.
For example, scholarship applications, exams, and interviews are now conducted online for faster processing. A dedicated digital platform also easy submission of grades and necessary documents.
“SM Foundation’s commitment extends beyond financial support. We execute engagement programs for our scholars to provide holistic mentorship, boosting their intellectual, emotional, and social skills,” Pe-Sy said.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
