- DepEd and HOPE launch 'Generation Hope' with top brands to combat 165,000-classroom shortage
- BDO, Grab, SM, Penshoppe, and others pledge profit shares, donations, and special products to fund classrooms
- Education Secretary Angara cites urgent need as DepEd budget falls short amid rising infrastructure demand
The Department of Education (DepEd), together with HOPE and top local brands, launched Generation Hope to address the classroom shortage of over 165,000 in the country. The public-private partnership seeks to construct additional public-school classrooms across the country by investing a share of the profits and donations of the nation's top brands' consumers. These brands include BDO, Carmen's Best, Grab, Penshoppe, The Aivee Clinic, SM Supermalls, and Sunnies.
DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' M. Angara received the alliance, particularly as the agency struggles with a budget that is too low to meet a growing classroom shortage.
"The budget truly is not enough annually. The shortfall has been compounding. Twelve years ago, perhaps the shortfall was 55,000 classrooms now it's 165,000", Mr. Angara said at the launch. "There's a million of us, but at times it seems lonely particularly when our budget was slashed by 12 million".
HOPE founder Nanette Gwen Medved explained that the project is an extension of what the organization has been doing since 2012. Although they have already constructed 144 classrooms since then, she added that even that is a 'drop in the bucket' compared to the total shortage of classrooms.
"If we want to motivate the nation to build its own nation through education, we need to do it with the major brands. It's not possible to do it with small brands", Ms. Medved said.
HOPE classrooms are only priced at between P1.2 million and P1.4 million to construct, as against their DepEd counterparts that average P2.5 million.
Financing for these rooms will be sourced from a share of the profits or rewards that partners' consumers would generate.
BDO committed to give P5 for each P1,000 worth spent via the 'HOPE in Every Spend' credit card. Reward points can also be turned into donations by the cardholders. A share from the annual membership fee will also be contributed to the project.
In the meantime, ride-hailing service app Grab will enable its customers to exchange rewards points for donations in aid of HOPE classroom construction. SM Supermalls will also donate part of proceeds from SM-water bottles sold in partner food retailers. Other companies, including Penshoppe, Carmen's Best, Aivee Clinic, and Sunnies, will introduce limited-edition product lines devoted to HOPE classrooms.
The total number of classrooms intended to be constructed through the Generation HOPE program is yet to be declared. Additional classrooms will be constructed as a result of increased funding from the private sector and consumers.
