AC Education Inc., the wholly-owned education arm of conglomerate Ayala Corp., is leveraging on its Student Value Add programs at its sister schools to bring the National Teachers College closer to its goal of becoming the top college in the country for teacher education.
“Our vision is for NTC to be the top college in the country for teacher education, and one of the best in producing industry-ready professionals who are ready to contribute their skills to the betterment of our country. Our aim is to deliver an education that is both good quality and affordable,” said NTC chairman and president Alfredo Ayala.
AC Education completed this year the acquisition of NTC located on Nepomuceno Street in Quiapo, Manila. Founded in 1928, it was the first school in the country to offer General Education leading to a Bachelor of Science in Education.
NTC has a long track record of commitment to excellence in teaching, growth and inclusion, with almost 10,000 students from Basic to Higher education.
“I think one of the reasons why we were selected is we have a very aligned vision for NTC and that vision is to build it the top education college in the country,” said Ayala, who is also the chief executive of AC Education.
Ayala, who has an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, unveiled AC Education’s long-term development plan for NTC which includes three phases: building on NTC’s foundation, introducing 21st Century approaches and synergies and exploring growth possibilities.
“We will be leveraging the Student Value Add programs AC Education has developed at our sister schools, in partnership with members of the Ayala Group and other employer partners, that have resulted in significantly better career outcomes for our graduate,” he said.
AC Education introduced four initiatives for school year 2018-2019 that are aimed at delivering quality and affordable education to NTC.
Ayala said they are introducing the English Immersion Environment throughout NTC “to help our students become more comfortable in thinking and communicating in English, both inside and outside the classroom.”
“Mastering English is an important advantage in the workforce, both here and abroad, and AC Education has deep experience in helping all learners, even those with limited English skills, to improve their communication skills significantly,” he said.
The Professional Employment Program is another initiative this year. It is an employability readiness program, co-designed by AC Education with employer partners, to develop skills and work habits that are in demand.
“It employs Google Chromebook, skill-based modules and simulations to prepare students for a wide range of professional jobs, including in banking, retail, IT and BPO. Upon program completion, students are endorsed to partner employers for recruitment, and teachers act as placement facilitators,” he said.
Ayala said that historically, PEP graduates earn around 30 percent more than comparable non-PEP graduates.
All NTC seniors who are not taking their boards will have the opportunity to take PEP.
AC Education is also embarking on a facilities improvement program at NTC starting this year.
“We recognize that having facilities that are conducive to learning are essential to the development of our students. This school year, we are laying the groundwork for a comprehensive and phased upgrade of our facilities, including the air-conditioning of more rooms in 2019, and the planned upgrade of our labs especially across IT and Hospitality and Tourism Management,” he said.
Ayala is also implementing the Board Enhanced Performance Program that identifies system-wide (people, processes, tools, methods) solutions that will enable more students to reach the boards.
Aside from education, NTC has also established growing Colleges of Accountancy & Business, Arts & Science, Hospitality Management and Information Technology, and a School of Advanced Studies.
“AC Education has really focused on delivering affordable, quality education but very specifically defined quality is employability, really maximizing the potential of our students and helping them get the possible careers,” Ayala said.
Ayala said focus is also on developing the soft skills of NTC students to prepare them in the actual working environment.
“So that is professionalism. Do what you say you’re gonna do, never let your team mate down, arrive on time. The most important, and a big part of that is self confidence which all of those if you’ve had the training in English, critical thinking, you’d be more confident,” he said.
AC Education has built the largest chain of stand-alone, private high schools in the country—Apec (Affordable Private Education Center) Schools, with 16,000 students in 23 sites in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal and Batangas.
AC Education has also invested in the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City, with 8,000 students. It is the oldest and one of the largest private schools in the Bicol region, offering college programs in Engineering and Architecture, Business and Accountancy, Education, Computer Studies, Law, Arts & Sciences, Criminology, Nursing and Graduate Studies.
Together with NTC, the combined population of AC Education’s schools is around 34,000 students.