Teachers Always Matter: REX and PEAC Reaffirm Commitment to the Teaching Profession, Launch Year 4 of Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan

The education sector needs the best and brightest to lead the way. With this vision, Rex Education and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) united in 2020 to launch the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan, a scholarship program dedicated to championing and advancing teacher education by inspiring top learners to pursue the teaching profession.

Four years later, the mission remains steadfast: to cultivate the country's brightest minds into champions of education—integral members of the Edukampyon community. Teachers, being closest to learners, are the ultimate Edukampyons, wielding the power to significantly impact Filipino learners and guiding them toward creating a better future for themselves, society, and nation.

On Teachers’ Day, October 5, Rex Education and PEAC reaffirmed this commitment with the formal launch of Year 4 of the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan, in a virtual event titled “A Commitment for the Future of the Teaching Profession: PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan Year 4 Launch.”

“I am deeply grateful and excited to be celebrating yet another meaningful milestone with all of you. Parang ang bilis ng panahon. I can hardly believe we are already launching the fourth year of our PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan Program,” said Don Timothy Buhain, Chief Executive Officer of RexEducation and Co-Chair of the scholarship program, during his keynote.

In his speech, Buhain highlighted the pressing need for meaningful change in the quality of education in the country, especially in light of the recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 rankings, where Filipino learners ranked 77th out of 81 countries. This alarming statistic underscores the need for education stakeholders—parents, school administrators, teachers, academic publishers, government, the whole nation—to intensify their initiatives, deepen their actions, and unite in uplifting education in the country.

According to Buhain, this enhancement in education quality hinges on improving teacher quality, which is a primary goal of this scholarship program. “Looking back, this all began with a shared recognition of a vital need. We knew that if we truly wanted to see meaningful change in the quality of education, particularly in teacher quality, we had to act swiftly,” Buhain stated. “In PEAC, we found a partner whose aspirations for learners and educators aligndeeply with ours. I truly believe we could not have asked for a more fitting collaborator and partner in this endeavor.”

This initiative will soon celebrate its first graduating class—14 of the country’s top scholars—who are set to enter the teaching profession next year as the pioneer batch of the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan program. For Year 4, PEAC and Rex Education are proud to welcome 25 scholars—the most in the program’s still short but fruitful history—in this continuing investment and commitment tothe teaching profession.

“Through this program, we aim to advance teacher quality by recruiting the best and brightest first-year students who want to pursue the teaching profession—especially in math and science—and grant them scholarships. This is our investment in the future of the profession. What an incredible journey it has been so far. We faced challenges, celebrated triumphs, and shared so many heartfelt moments along the way. Look how far we’ve come,” Buhain remarked.

Indeed, the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan program has come a long way and made remarkable strides in just four short years It only continues to grow stronger and has so much more to give, be hopeful for, and accomplish in years to come.

First Eduspec Inc. encourages institutions to be STEAM-STRONG for the future of learners

Mr. Lim Soon Seong, President of First Eduspec Inc., and Mr. Willard Paras, General Manager of FEI Inc., present a certificate of appreciation to Dr. Alfons Jayson Pelgone of Philippine Normal University, the event's keynote speaker.

The results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other international standardized tests have brought attention to the poor performance of Filipino learners, underscoring the ongoing challenges in the quality of education in our country today. Filipino students are falling behind in critical areas, particularly math and science, ranking 77th among 81 countries in the 2022 PISA rankings released in December 2023.

For First Eduspec Inc. (FEI), this news presents a challenge and an opportunity to provide better support for learners by emphasizing their STEAM curriculum. With a purposive and well-designed STEAM curriculum, experiential tools to test and hone students’ skills, assessments to measure performance, and continuous professional development programs for teachers, Filipino learners can fully realize their potential and become more equipped and STEAM-strong. All these are offered by FEI, a multinational organization known for its innovative, technology-based educational solutions and services, and a sister company of Rex Education, a leading academic publisher in the country.

On October 11, FEI and REX underscored their commitment in a special program to address the challenges of providing better support for Filipino learners in STEAM education as they prepare to become future-ready citizens of a digital, technology-driven world.

Themed Armed and Equipped: Nurturing Future-Ready Citizens Through Leveled-Up STEAM Learning with First Eduspec Inc., the program featured keynotes from prominent STEAM stakeholders, including FEI General Manager Willard Paras and Dr. Alfons Jayson Pelgone of the Philippine Normal University. FEI and Rex Education also reaffirmed their commitment to actively support initiatives aimed at advancing the Philippine education system and further empowering Filipino learners.

“At FEI, we have made it our mission to come up with STEAM learning solutions that are relevant, needs-driven, and research- and evidence-based to respond to the ever-changing needs for innovative learning solutions,” Paras said, as he discussed the four pillars of FEI’s STEAM-STRONG programs:

STEAM curriculum designed to develop 21st-century skills.
Authentic assessment for evidence-based teaching, learning dynamics, and evaluation of students’ skills achievement.
Educational technology to help students and teachers familiarize themselves with the world of work.
Capacity building and professional development for institutions, and especially teachers, to effectively deliver these programs.

“We work closely with every partner and institution to ensure schools are ready to assist learners in their STEAM journey. We provide training and workshops to help empower teachers and instructors, enabling them to become competent STEAM enthusiasts who can, in turn, arm and equip our learners,” Paras added.

In his keynote, REX CEO Don Timothy Buhain reflected on the Philippines’ low PISA ranking, calling it “a challenge for all of us” and prompting the audience to consider these vital questions: How are we teaching STEAM in our schools? Are we truly giving our learners all the tools and support they need to succeed in the real world?

“This is a conversation we need to have, and I am happy we are here as part of the solution. We will do more,” Buhain assured.

“With FEI’s guidance, our STEAM offerings have been significantly enhanced, enabling us to better meet the needs of our learners. For us at REX, FEI is family—an integral contributor to the symphony of learning solutions we have developed over the years. This relationship grows stronger every day as we approach our 75th year of nurturing Filipino learners,” Buhain said.

These needs have only increased in the 21st century, with the introduction of digital learning technologies fundamentally transforming how people learn and interact with information. This transformation underscores the importance of technology—a core component of STEAM—in ensuring young people’s successful participation in all spheres of life.

In line with this, PISA has introduced in its ninth cycle a new, innovative domain: Learning in a Digital World, which assesses students’ ability to learn and thrive in digital environments alongside its usual evaluations of core skills in math and science. FEI and Rex Education’s STEAM-STRONG initiative aims to help improve Filipino learners’ performance in PISA and prepare them for a digital, technology-driven future.

The special event also marked the launch of the Partnership Graduate Studies Program with First City Providential College, an institution granted autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education. The program will offer advanced learning opportunities in STEAM and robotics education to further empower educators. Additionally, the event included the soft launch of the Federation of Robotics Schools in the Philippines, an organization dedicated to advancing coding, robotics, and STEAM learning nationwide through various programs and activities.

A total of 55 schools have signed up for FEI’s robotics program for SY 2024–2025, including St. Mary’s College (Quezon City), which showcased an agricultural robot prototype designed to help Filipino farmers cultivate their fields. This demonstration highlights both the far-reaching impact of robotics in various aspects of life and the exceptional talent of Filipino students in this high-tech field.

St. Mary’s College wowed the audience with their groundbreaking Robot Project. Embracing the theme "Armed and Equipped: Nurturing Future-Ready Citizens with Leveled-Up STEAM Learning and Robotics," these young tech innovators showcased exceptional creativity, engineering skills, and problem-solving expertise.