Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
DepEd, Jollibee partner to strengthen SHS curriculum, build 50 classrooms by 2028
Philippines
National
DepEd, Jollibee partner to strengthen SHS curriculum, build 50 classrooms by 2028
DepEd, Jollibee partner to strengthen SHS curriculum, build 50 classrooms by 2028
Partnership aims to equip students with industry-ready skills and address classroom shortage nationwide
Published Aug 28, 2025 03:33 pm
DepEd and Jollibee Group to launch a QSR curriculum for Senior High School students and pledge to build 50 classrooms nationwide by 2028 to ease shortages. (DepEd / file)
The Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with Jollibee Foods Corporation to enhance the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum and help address the country’s classroom shortage.
The collaboration will introduce a quick-service restaurant (QSR) program to equip students with industry-ready skills, while also committing to build 50 classrooms nationwide by 2028 as part of Jollibee Group’s 50th anniversary initiatives.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing the value of industry-aligned learning.
“At a time when AI and tech disruption are reshaping industries and jobs, this collaboration gives our learners not only the right skills but also the resilience to thrive,” Angara said.
He noted that the partnership with the Jollibee Group is a “strong example” of how public-private cooperation can bring industry-relevant learning into classrooms.
Angara added that the commitment to build 50 new classrooms by 2028 also demonstrates “how this partnership invests in both knowledge and space, ensuring that more Filipino students are equipped for the future of work.”
Jollibee Group Philippines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph Tanbuntiong, meanwhile, reiterated the company’s commitment to helping Filipino learners maximize their potential.
“We believe real, lasting change begins when students learn in safe, inspiring classrooms and see a clear path from classroom to career—when every Joy Learning Center is where hope takes root, and every QSR immersion is where that hope grows into skill, confidence, and opportunity,” he said.
Empowering future food service professionals
The Jollibee Group will partner with DepEd to co-develop a QSR curriculum tailored for SHS students under the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track.
The program will combine classroom-based instruction with immersive on-the-job training across Jollibee Group’s brands, covering skills such as food preparation and safety, customer service excellence, sanitation and workplace safety, and business communication.
“We believe in creating more pathways for young Filipinos to achieve meaningful employment,” said Jollibee Group Philippines Chief Human Resources Officer Ruth Angeles. “By investing in their skills early on, we also help raise the standards of service in the QSR sector.”
The work immersion component will begin in the upcoming school year, with pilot schools selected nationwide. Results from the pilot run will guide refinements before scaling up to more schools.
50 classrooms for 50 years
In line with its 50th anniversary in 2028, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) announced a parallel initiative to construct 50 classrooms across the Philippines to help address the national classroom shortage.
The rollout will begin in 2026, starting with six classrooms in Mindoro, Cebu, and Sarangani, and continue through 2028.
JGF President Gisela Tiongson explained that the classroom-building project is a key part of Jollibee Group’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2028, coinciding with JGF’s 20th year in 2025.
“Our vision is to help create learning spaces where every child, teacher, and community member can experience the joy and power of education,” she said. “By investing in both programs and physical infrastructure, we contribute to a more empowered and resilient generation of learners.”
Investing in education and communities
The initiative complements JGF’s broader Joy of Learning program, which also includes the flagship Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen feeding program.
Together, these efforts aim to foster inclusive growth, build sustainable learning environments, and open pathways to meaningful employment for young Filipinos.