Security Bank Foundation Inc.’s (SBFI) flagship education program, the “Build a School, Build a Nation: The Classrooms Project”, surpassed the 500th classroom mark with the turnover of a two-storey, ten-classroom school building to Lemery Pilot Elementary School in Lemery, Batangas last December 11, 2019.
“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. In celebration of Security Bank’s 60th Anniversary, Security Bank Foundation launched the ‘Build a School, Build a Nation: The 60 Classrooms Project’. We had an initial target of building and donating 60 classrooms to selected public schools in communities where Security Bank has a presence. We envisioned doing this over a period of five years or at the rate of twelve classrooms per year. In all honesty, we never envisioned that we will exceed our original target. Our expected 2019 year-end total of 545 classrooms equates to nine times our original plan of building 60 classrooms,” shared Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., chairman of Security Bank Foundation.
Lemery Pilot Elementary School Principal Ma. Teresa Caringal shared how the new Security Bank Foundation school building will inspire the school community. “The teachers can expect higher participation rate among learners and decreased dropout rate. There will also be more bond among the learners of the whole Grade 4 community since they will be situated in one building. More academic and non-academic achievements will be expected not only from Grade 4 students but the entire school community as we live up to our school mantra – committed to sustain the flame of excellence burning,” said Caringal.
Municipal Mayor of Lemery, Batangas Hon. Eulalio Alilio shared that the advocacy of SBFI also inspired the community: “The generosity of Security Bank Foundation stirred the burning passion of Lemereños towards education. Parents have shown enthusiasm and active participation in government-initiated activities. The presence of Security Bank Foundation ignited their willingness to aid public schools as Security Bank Foundation exhibited.”
“We gained so much respect from the community because they were amazed with what we had given to them. There are plenty of universal banks which have been in the area for a very long time, but none has given such a significant donation like Security Bank,” highlighted Feliciano Villa, Jr., business manager of Security Bank Lemery Batangas Branch, who has been working with Security Bank Foundation to bring The Classrooms Project to his area of operation.
The multi-stakeholder implementation approach of the “Build a School, Build a Nation: The Classrooms Project” underscores the message that it takes the whole community to raise a child and advance better quality of education. Since 2011, Security Bank Foundation’s The Classrooms Project has already turned over 509 classrooms, benefitting 96 schools in 52 cities and municipalities nationwide. Aside from providing the much-needed classrooms, the project also aims to improve the quality of instruction by means of training and development opportunities for teachers and school heads of beneficiary schools. To date, Security Bank Foundation has already trained 1,387 teachers and 94 school heads in partnership with Ateneo De Manila University and De La Salle Philippines.
To know more about the Security Bank Foundation, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation.