Ayala, Pearson to open affordable but world-class high schools

MANILA, Philippines - Parents can now send their children to world-class private high schools for as low as P64 a day following a joint venture between Ayala Corp. and UK-based Pearson to establish affordable schools in the country.

Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala led yesterday the launching of the Affordable Private Education Center, Inc. (APEC), a chain of affordable private high schools, at the Ayala Museum in Makati City.

APEC is opening 11 schools in Caloocan, Manila, Marikina, Pasig and Quezon City this coming school year.

APEC president Beth Lui said they aim to provide high quality but affordable education to low-income families.

“This year APEC will admit incoming Grade 7 (junior high school) and will continue to add levels every year until Grade 10,” she said.

Last year, APEC piloted its program at the Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila for Grades 7 and 8.

“We want to replicate this experience. We are putting up APEC initially in Metro Manila and in the future we will go further out,” Lui said.

She said APEC schools are more student-centered, allowing children to interact and solve problems together.

“We make sure that our graduates are ready for work from day one by applying their learning in real-life contexts,” said APEC chairman of the board Alfredo Ayala.

APEC teachers use an advanced curriculum developed with Pearson, the world’s leading learning company.

Pearson is partnering with Ayala through the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund (PALF), which is dedicated in investing in education ventures in developing countries.

The parents can pay an annual fee of P23,000, inclusive of the use of books and computers. The fees include a one-time admission fee of P4,000 and 10 monthly installments of P1,900.

“The first 70 enrollees at each school will avail of a 20 percent discount, which will bring the monthly installment down to P1,490, or approximately P50 per day,” Lui said.

She said they expect over 1,000 enrollees this school year for the 11 sites.

“There are more public and private elementary schools than high schools in the country. We think that is the area where we can make big difference,” Lui said.