A School for Future Leaders

Established in 1998, Centex is a pioneer project of Ayala Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with specific Philippine government units, the Department of Education, and selected corporate champions. The schools currently cover the elementary grades because few educational opportunities for the marginalized are offered at this level.

When fourth grader Lester Lampano says, I want to be President of the Philippines one day," his teachers and the rest of his schools community take him seriously.

Lester is a student of the Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education, or Centex, a one-of-a-kind educational experience designed to uplift Philippine society in an exceptional manner. Here, children, limited only by the circumstances of their impoverished surroundings, are educated and nurtured in the ways of servant leadership.

Established in 1998, Centex is a pioneer project of Ayala Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with specific Philippine government units, the Department of Education, and selected corporate champions. The schools currently cover the elementary grades because few educational opportunities for the marginalized are offered at this level.

There are two Centex campuses-one in Tondo, Manila, which is primarily funded by an Ayala Land, Inc. endowment and the other in Bauan, Batangas, a province south of Manila, which is similarly sponsored by telecommunications company Globe Telecom. Both schools are located on properties owned by their respective local government units. Likewise, the schools are supported by the Department of Education, which deploys teachers and other resources.

A Centex education, from kindergarten through grade six, is given free of charge to a select group of bright students from families with monthly incomes of around P10,000 or roughly US$185. Family incomes are derived from vending, pedicab driving, employment in factories, variety store operation, and other low paying jobs. Because of their economic limitations, students are also given snacks and lunch as well as transportation and clothing allowances to mitigate the common impediments to effective learning.

Centex began with kindergarten and have been adding one additional grade level each year. By school year 2003-2004, the oldest students in Centex-Manila will be in grade five and in grade three in Centex-Batangas. It is hoped that as the Centex graduates progress to higher levels of education, they will easily qualify for high school and college scholarships.

Nurturing servant leaders

The innovative curriculum of Centex focuses on developing integrated learning, critical thinking and ethical values. Extraordinary concern is taken to nurture the students self-esteem, an essential ingredient for effective leadership.

Students learn through a holistic curricular program that uses the Language Arts to integrate all content areas. In the Centex classroom, mathematics, science, social studies, music, and art are presented using stories from all around the world. These stories help the children experience learning from a global perspective and a global awareness. Learning is facilitated and technological skills are enhanced through computer programs that complement learning modules. Academic disciplines are connected to life skills that make learning relevant to the lives of the children.

Through this holistic curriculum, Centex aims to produce ethical graduates with a desire to give back to the community. A goal realized is a lineage of servant leaders with the skills, the heart, and the vision to make quality of life a reality for all in whatever field they choose.

The oldest Centex students are only in the fourth grade yet their academic performance already gives credence to this objective. Students in both schools ranked first on all levels of the mid-year and post-year Public Elementary, Division Level, Achievement Tests for school year 2001-2002. They have also consistently topped regional and national competitions in academics and elocution.

Corporate champions

American philanthropist John Connely once observed that education is the most effective and comprehensive means available to a free society to correct wrongs and better the lives of its people." Centex embraces this belief and aspires to facilitate the establishment of campuses in every province of the Philippines as its way of democratizing education.

It hopes to do this by looking for corporate champions that will commit to fund an endowment to develop a curriculum that is relevant and integrated so that graduates are academically and technologically prepared to be a lifelong learner.

Funds are also used to enhance facilities and equipment to complement the curriculum and support programs for Centex students and their families. Interest earnings, in turn, pay for the operational expense, curricular materials, plant improvement, and human resources required by the campus.

Positive changes

The goal to create more Centex schools all over the Philippines can only be welcome news for parents like Radito D. Marasigan of Batangas, whose child, Bong, began showing positive changes when he began studying at Centex: He was once very shy. He has now become very friendly to his classmates and to other children in our neighborhood. From being inactive in school, he is now very motivated to go to Centex. Centex has helped my child develop not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. I am proud that my child is very independent and confident now," says Marasigan.

Another parent, Sandylou O. Bermas, says that her daughter Jana enjoys school so much that she even imitates her teachers at home. She adds: She knows how to carry a meaningful conversation. I no longer fear for my childs future because I believe that she is 100% assured of a good education at Centex."

And generous individuals and corporate champions are keeping the dream alive by contributing what they can to the Centex vision.

Sidebar:

Teaching their parents

Centex children are becoming agents of change right in their own homes. The need to recycle, to anticipate events, and to keep things organized are some of the lessons that Centex kids are teaching their parents.
   Princess mother, Anita, recalls that her daughter, age 7, admonished her one day to recycle a juice can instead of leaving it under the seat of the jeepney they were riding.
    Alexs mother woke up in a panic one morning. She had overslept and was worried that Alex, age 7, would be late for school. Her fear changed to pleasant surprise when she saw that Alex, who had awakened earlier, had taken it upon himself to prepare his uniform and even get breakfast ready for the family.
   After learning about the effects of second-hand smoke, Lester, age 7, would respectfully ask his father to leave the room whenever he had an urge for the weed. The child reasoned that the smoke was harmful not only to his father but also to his mother and siblings. Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health!" has become Lesters constant refrain in their household and it looks like he may just succeed in motivating his father to quit.

Be a channel for change
Donate to CENTEX by sending a check to Ayala Foundation USA at 255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 128, Redwood City, CA 94065, USA. Donations may also be remitted online via www.lingkodpinoy.org.
For more information about CENTEX and other noteworthy projects in the Philippines, please call Myrna Araneta at (650) 598-3126 or e-mail us at afusa@ayalafoundation.org or visit our websites at www.ayalafdnusa.org and www.centex.org.ph.
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