MANILA – The Ayala Group has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Khan Academy Philippines (KA PH) aimed at enhancing access to high-quality 21st century digital learning for students and teachers nationwide.

Ayala Corporation, Ayala Foundation, Inc., Globe Telecom, Inc., iPeople, Inc. (the education joint venture between Ayala Corporation and majority owner House of Investments of the Yuchengco Group of Companies) and iPeople schools National Teachers College and University of Nueva Caceres are all supporting the partnership that DepEd and KA PH announced in August 2024. The partnership aims to address the learning crisis by strengthening learners’ fundamental literacy and numeracy skills through Khan Academy’s world-renowned online course content.

The MOU brings together leading organizations committed to advancing education in the Philippines through technology. Key initiatives outlined in the collaboration include:

Teacher Training: Comprehensive training programs led by KA PH to empower educators with innovative teaching methodologies using Khan Academy’s learning platform;
Program Implementation: Deployment of Khan Academy’s learning platform in Ayala- affiliated schools, ensuring equitable access to free, world-class educational resources for both teachers and students;
Internships and Fellowships: Opportunities for students in Ayala’s network to engage with KA PH in roles supporting education technology and program development;
Infrastructure Support: Provision of critical digital infrastructure facilitated by Globe Telecom, to enable the use of the Khan Academy platform in schools, e.g. the prototype Classroom of the Future at Museo Pambata, powered by KA PH, Globe and Samsung.
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“DepEd is proud and grateful to stand shoulder to shoulder with these education partners. We can solve perennial challenges in education by drawing from the expertise of partners like Ayala Group and the cutting-edge vision of enterprises of the future like Khan Academy,” said Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

“This partnership is a testament to our collective vision of transforming education in the Philippines,” said Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine, President and CEO of Khan Academy Philippines. “By joining forces with the Ayala Group alongside the Department of Education, we are paving the way for innovative and inclusive learning solutions that empower Filipino students and educators alike. We believe that quality education is both a fundamental right and a collective responsibility. With the support of Ayala Corporation and its affiliates, we are committed to making free, world-class education accessible to every learner and teacher in the Philippines. This collaboration aligns with our mission to inspire curiosity, unlock potential, and build a brighter future for all.”

“We are delighted to support DepEd and Khan Academy in this very important Public– Private Partnership initiative to utilize the latest education technology to deliver high quality education to many Filipino learners in public and private schools,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Member of the Board of Directors of Ayala Corporation and Chairman of Ayala Foundation.

“We are very pleased that iPeople’s University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City and National Teachers College in Manila are both participating in the Khan Academy pilot in School Year 2024-2025, and expect to see significant improvements in learning outcomes,” said Fred Ayala, President of iPeople.

“This partnership aligns perfectly with our CENTEX Early Grades, whose goal is to broaden access to qualified, research-based practices in order to build students’ foundational skills and transform learning environments through digital education. We recently launched our CENTEX Early Grades in 9 DepEd schools in San Marcelino, Zambales, together with KA PH, DepEd Zambales, the LGU of San Marcelino, ACEN, and the Education Development Center,” said Tony Lambino, President of Ayala Foundation.

“As a staunch advocate for digital inclusion, Globe is honored to support DepEd’s partnership with Khan Academy, together with Ayala Corporation. Connectivity is vital in unlocking the full potential of digital learning, and we are committed to support this using our pervasive internet infrastructure to ensure that students and educators can fully benefit from this transformative platform. This initiative aligns with our mission to create a future where no learner is left behind, bridging the digital divide and fostering greater access to quality education,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

“This partnership is very welcome as it aligns very well with UNC’s mission to expand opportunities for Bicolanos by preparing students for success in a technology-driven world,” said Dr. Fay Lauraya, President of the University of Nueva Caceres.

“We are very excited to be supporting this truly whole of nation initiative. NTC has already deployed 64 teaching interns in nine locations across Luzon to support the training of over 1,600 DepEd teachers during the pilot with KA PH,” said Dr. Edizon Fermin, VP Academic Affairs of National Teachers College.