The Build A School, Build A Nation: The Classrooms Project is multi-sectoral, involving the participation of Security Bank employees, clients, local government units, academic partners, and the beneficiary community. The program’s holistic approach to education is highlighted by end to end initiatives – from the construction of classrooms benefitting the students and the communities to spearheading leadership development for school heads and facilitating technical training for teachers.
The Security Bank Foundation started to focus on education in 2011, when the shortage of classrooms in public schools was raised as a serious concern by the Philippine government. As part of Security Bank’s 60th Anniversary then, SBFI partnered with Ateneo de Manila University for the “Build a School, Build a Nation: The 60 Classrooms Project.” In 2014 – three years into the program – SBFI partnered with De La Salle Philippines to reach more communities. SBFI also worked together with the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation to put up kindergarten classrooms nationwide.
BENGUET
ILOCOS SUR
PANGASINAN
CAGAYAN
ISABELA
BATAAN
BULACAN
NUEVA ECIJA
PAMPANGA
TARLAC
ZAMBALES
BATANGAS
CAVITE
LAGUNA
QUEZON
ALBAY
CAMARINES SUR
CAPIZ
ILOILO
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
BOHOL
CEBU
NEGROS ORIENTAL
LEYTE
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
MISAMIS ORIENTAL
DAVAO DEL SUR
DAVAO DEL NORTE
SARANGGANI
SOUTH COTABATO
Better Facilities for All
The classrooms that Security Bank Foundation put up are sturdy, disaster-proof, and PWD-friendly. The school buildings have ramps and dedicated comfort rooms for PWDs, on top of the comfort rooms for male and female students. The school building is also elevated by a meter height from the ground to mitigate the impact of flooding, especially in low-lying areas.
Painted in Security Bank’s trademark colors blue and green, the classrooms are spacious, installed with good lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, fire alarm system and toilets with bidets. These features make studying in the donated classrooms all the more comfortable and conducive for learning.
Check our classrooms’ turnover photos throughout the years.
Helping Students From All Walks of Life
On top of supporting regular public schools, Security Bank Foundation has also donated classrooms to public schools catering to special education (SPED) students. Pres. Manuel A. Roxas Memorial School – SPED received eight classrooms in 2014 while Panabo Central Elementary School – SPED Center received six classrooms in 2019. For 2020, Security Bank Foundation is set to construct and turnover classrooms for public school SPED centers in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and Santiago, Isabela.
In 2017, SBFI also donated six classrooms to CCT Visions of Hope Christian School, a school in Malungon, Sarangani for children from the B’laan, Tagakaolo, and Kalagan indigenous groups.
Last November, SBFI put up six classrooms in the mission school of De La Salle Philippines in Bagac, Bataan catering to children of farmers and fishermen.
Program Milestones as of December 31, 2019
Security Bank Foundation conducts regular repainting and repair, especially for the older classrooms and those that were affected by calamities. In 2019, Security Bank Foundation repaired 52 classrooms in Angeles and San Fernando, Pampanga; Ormoc and Tacloban, Leyte; Silang, Cavite and Tagbilaran, Bohol which were damaged by earthquakes. Security Bank Foundation also funded the repainting and maintenance of 21 classrooms in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija and Mandaue, Cebu.
True to its full circle commitment to education, The Classrooms Project also has a provision of continuous training and development for teachers and school administrators. The Security Bank Foundation believes that quality education begins with quality teachers and school heads. With this, the Foundation partnered with two of the top academic institutions in the country, Ateneo De Manila University and De La Salle Philippines, to develop and conduct training programs for educators in their beneficiary schools.
The training is accredited by the Professional Regulations Commission enabling participants to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units needed for the renewal of teachers’ and school principals’ professional license.
Teachers Training
Security Bank Foundation, Ateneo and La Salle have trained 1,387 teachers and 94 school heads of the public school system. The training for teachers caters to Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies), English, Mathematics and Science subjects and focuses on enhancing teaching strategies using 21st century approaches, methods and tools so teachers will be able to adapt to the learning behaviors and challenges of the current generation of students (GenZs).
School Principals Training
The school principals’ workshop trains school leaders on leadership, trends in 21st century learning, creating a conducive and safe school environment, building and nourishing partnerships, managing school assets and infrastructure, disaster risk reduction and management, financial management and resource mobilization for school needs.
Security Bank Foundation gives opportunities for Security Bank employees to be part of the education advocacy. The annual school painting activity engages employees to work alongside school teachers and contractor personnel to smoothen and paint the surface of the walls, columns and grills of a school building that SBFI is currently constructing. The activity is one hundred percent volunteer driven as a select group of employees are asked to handle program management, setup, as well as safety and security coordination.
Year-round, SBFI taps its employees in the branches to help identify potential beneficiary schools for The Classrooms Project. Branch employees also help monitor ongoing classroom constructions, meet with community stakeholders, organize turnover ceremonies of completed classrooms and go back to beneficiary schools to get feedback for project outcome and impact.