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Through the initiative, GBF will support 100 public school teachers by providing opportunities for professional upskilling in STEM instruction, particularly for educators teaching subjects outside of their college specialization.
Launched in 2025 in partnership with UST, the GBF TeachSTEM Certificate Program aims to help address critical gaps in Science education by strengthening teachers’ content knowledge, instructional strategies, and classroom confidence.
The program responds to findings from EDCOM II, which reported that 62% of high school teachers are teaching subjects outside their area of specialization. The challenge is even more pronounced in Science, where specialization mismatches reportedly reach 98% in Physical Sciences and 80% in Biological Sciences.
GBF General Manager Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing these education challenges.
“These numbers remind us why partnerships like this matter. Through the TeachSTEM Certificate Course in Science Teaching, GBF hopes to help address science specialization gaps through targeted upskilling, so that more teachers are equipped with stronger content knowledge, practical teaching strategies, and renewed confidence in the classroom,” she shared.
UST also underscored the role of higher education institutions in supporting educators and strengthening the teaching profession.
Rev. Fr. Art Vincent M. Pangan, O.P., SThL, highlighted the university’s commitment to helping form competent and compassionate teachers who will serve Filipino learners. Through the UST College of Education, which recently celebrated its centennial year, the university continues to open opportunities for collaboration and teacher development.
“Sa pagbubukas ng pintuang ito para maibahagi ang anumang yaman meron kami, ang talento ng aming mga guro at ng mga naglilingkod sa paghuhubog ng mga guro… You will enjoy here, learning with us, growing with us, and serving with us. Thank you very much po and welcome,” Fr. Pangan shared.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment among GBF, UST, and participating SDOs to improve STEM learning outcomes in public schools by investing in teacher capacity-building and professional development.
At GBF, strengthening STEM education begins with empowering educators. Through initiatives such as the TeachSTEM Certificate Program, the foundation continues to support teachers with accessible learning opportunities, practical training, and collaborative programs that help create more meaningful and engaging learning experiences for Filipino students.
