The Jollibee Group has strengthened its collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) by launching a dual initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of food service professionals and addressing the classroom shortage in the Philippines. The partnership was formalized as part of the Jollibee Group’s 50th anniversary commitment.
Under this partnership, a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) curriculum will be developed specifically for Senior High School (SHS) students, while 50 new classrooms are set to be constructed nationwide by 2028.
Education Meets Industry: A New Curriculum for Food Service Careers
As part of the Tech-Vocational or Technical Professional (TechPro) track in SHS, the QSR-focused curriculum will combine theoretical learning with practical, hands-on experience. Students will gain essential skills in food preparation, customer engagement, workplace sanitation, and business communication through immersive work immersion programs at Jollibee Group establishments.
“We aim to open more doors to gainful employment for Filipino youth by investing early in their skills development,” said Ruth Angeles, Chief Human Resources Officer of Jollibee Group Philippines. “This program also helps elevate service standards in the QSR sector by preparing future professionals with industry-relevant competencies.”
The pilot run of the program will start in the upcoming school year, with insights from the first batch helping to enhance and potentially scale the curriculum across more schools.
DepEd Backs Private Sector Collaboration
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara lauded the collaboration as a progressive step toward bridging education with employment. “With technology and AI transforming job landscapes, it’s vital that our students are prepared with relevant skills and adaptability. This partnership with the Jollibee Group empowers our youth both in the classroom and in the workforce,” he said.
He also emphasized the significance of the classroom-building component, calling it an investment not just in infrastructure but in learning opportunities.
Building More Classrooms, One Community at a Time
In addition to the QSR curriculum, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) will be spearheading the construction of 50 new classrooms by 2028 to help mitigate the country’s classroom deficit. The first wave of this effort will see six classrooms built across three sites: Mindoro, Cebu, and Sarangani.
“This project is central to our 50th anniversary celebration and JGF’s 20th year,” said Gisela Tiongson, JGF President. “We believe that learning spaces are powerful agents of change. Through this initiative, we aim to provide students and educators with environments that inspire growth, learning, and joy.”
The construction is set to commence in 2026 and will be phased until 2028.
A Broader Vision for Education and Community Development
Both the QSR curriculum and the classroom-building project fall under the Jollibee Group and JGF’s “Joy of Learning” umbrella program. This includes their long-running Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen feeding initiative, which supports nutrition and education in underserved communities.
Through these combined efforts, the Jollibee Group aims to foster inclusive growth by creating stronger pathways to education and employment for Filipino youth, and by building a brighter, more resilient future for communities across the country.
