Security Bank Foundation, DepEd strengthen educator training

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd), Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI) and Security Bank Corp. have formalized a partnership to expand the foundation’s Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program, a three-year training initiative for teachers and school principals.

Under the agreement, DepEd will endorse qualified applicants, grant learning and development credits, monitor action plans, and provide essential data to measure impact.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara lauded Security Bank’s long-term commitment.

“Looking at the figures, Security Bank is truly one of our most steadfast allies from the private sector. Their support has never been a fleeting gesture, but a lasting commitment — one that continues to create evidence of change not just for years, but for decades, transforming communities, schools, families, and individual lives,” Angara said.

Developed with Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Philippines, and international partners The HEAD Foundation (Singapore) and the University of Bristol (UK), the program equips principals with leadership and problem-solving skills, and trains teachers in modern instruction methods for English, Math, and Science, student assessment and community engagement.

“Physical structures alone cannot improve education. True transformation lies in the hands of principals and teachers,” SBFI chairman Rafael Simpao Jr. said.

Now in its third year, the program has trained 167 educators —many from SBFI’s beneficiary schools — preparing them to serve as mentors and leaders in their communities.

It complements the foundation’s flagship Build a School, Build a Nation classroom donation program, extending impact beyond infrastructure to long-term capacity building.