More than 1,500 children in El Nido are expected to receive a stronger foundation for long-term learning through a new early education partnership program, organizers announced.

Dubbed CENTEX Early Grades, the initiative is a joint partnership among the El Nido municipal government, the Department of Education Division of Palawan, Palawan State University and the Ayala Foundation.

The program will support children ages 3 to 5 by training 28 child development workers and 17 kindergarten teachers across eight villages over the next two school years.

The program aims to enhance local learning environments through improved teaching practices, quality learning materials, parent engagement, and community-wide collaboration.

“The CENTEX Early Grades Program is a commendable initiative that will lay a vital foundation for lifelong learning by equipping young learners and educators with the essential tools, resources, and training needed for academic success,” Dr. Loida S. Adornado, Palawan schools division superintendent, said in a statement.

Part of the Ayala Foundation’s broader commitment to help address the Philippine learning crisis, the program will build teacher capacity, provide high-quality learning resources, and establish systems for continuous improvement.

The initiative will also draw on the expertise of 10 education specialists from Palawan State University to support implementation.

“Strong foundations are built both inside and outside our schools,” said Tony Lambino, Ayala Foundation president. “When communities invest in the early years, they create opportunities that can shape a child’s entire educational journey.”

The collaboration among the local government, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, the DepEd Schools Division of Palawan, Palawan State University, and the Ayala Foundation was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed 19 June at the Palawan State University El Nido campus.

The initiative is funded through the support of SC Johnson, which helped expand access to the program for young learners in the municipality. DT