The future of education in the Zamboanga Peninsula and its neighboring regions is looking brighter than ever with the launch of the Ateneo Learning and Teaching Excellence Center (ALTEC). This center represents a union of believers, a group of passionate individuals who are dedicated to creating a better education landscape for our country.

Partnering with the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation and AHA Learning Center, ALTEC has set its sights on addressing the learning loss and deficits faced by today’s youth. By fostering significant and lasting changes to the country’s educational system, ALTEC is committed to making teaching and learning more effective, inclusive, and innovative.

The launch of ALTEC was attended by several key figures, including AdZU President Fr Karel S San Juan SJ, who expressed his core passion for teaching and learning. According to him, teaching and learning are not only core competencies but are integral to everything AdZU does. With the establishment of ALTEC, Fr Karel hopes to consolidate AdZU’s strengths in teacher education, student learning, community outreach, and partnerships to make education better.

ALTEC’s mission is centered around serving educators and learners by providing integrated formation, capacity building, and teacher education in an evolving educational landscape. With the support of its partners, networks, and affiliations, ALTEC envisions a community of driven and resilient educators and learners who will be co-creators in promoting quality education and sustainable development in Western Mindanao and beyond.

The generous donation from Benjamin Go Investments has provided the necessary impetus for ALTEC to continue its mission. ALTEC Director Rogin Christ J Eribal hopes to strengthen curriculum delivery and support teachers in formal and alternative education by journeying with educational leaders, who will be vital in ensuring continuous professional development in their schools. ALTEC’s flagship program, SUGPAT, aims to connect the out-of-school youth of Zamboanga to opportunities that will help them achieve their dreams. The program seeks to strengthen the delivery of the new curriculum of the Department of Education Alternative Learning System (DepEd ALS) and reinforce mechanisms to improve access to opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and employment. This year, through the SUGPAT program, ALTEC will support the Kaya Initiative, a youth-led participatory action project that aims to reduce the number of out-of-school children and youth in Zamboanga City. Another exciting project of ALTEC is Teach Anywhere, which is a collaboration between ALTEC, AdZU, AHA Learning Center, and Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. This program seeks to address learning loss, sustain community support, and capacitate educators to improve learners’ foundational skills.

ALTEC’s efforts have been lauded by Executive Director and Founder of AHA Learning Center, Jaton Zulueta, who stressed the importance of maintaining hope in the face of adversity to be the change we wish to see in society. Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation Co-Founder Dr. Anton Lim also expressed his belief that a collaboration of hopeful, passionate individuals can bring about tremendous change and be a significant step forward in AdZU’s mission of making quality education available for our country’s youth.
Indeed, ALTEC’s establishment is a beacon of hope for the future of education in the Philippines. With a collective effort from passionate individuals and collaborative partnerships, we can create a better future for our youth and the generations to come.