PHINMA Education Continues Its Mission To Provide Quality Education Open To Underserved Students

After 18 years of pursuing its mission of making lives better through education, PHINMA Education welcomed over 95,000 students in SY 21-22, resulting in a 79% revenue increase, year-on-year. The organization, made up of ten schools in the Philippines and Indonesia, offers over 110 programs covering the entire education chain and boasts a 75% board exam passing rate for first-time takers.

“It is only with an intimate understanding of the needs and aspirations of our underserved, first-generation students can we make their lives better,” said PHINMA Chairman and CEO Ramon R. del Rosario Jr in a July 18 press briefing. The majority of PHINMA Education students come from the bottom of the pyramid and are often the first in their families to enter college.

Dr. Chito B. Salazar, President and CEO of PHINMA Education

“Our students need quality education now more than ever,” said Dr. Chito B. Salazar, President and CEO of PHINMA Education at the same briefing. He continued, “Because we were able to serve the needs of our market at a time when the continuity of their education was most challenging for them, we were able to grow our network to the biggest it has ever been.”

Biggest Enrollment in 18-Year History

In SY 21-22, PHINMA Education welcomed 95,503 students, a 31% increase from 72,746 students in SY 2020-2021. According to Finance Chief Daisy C. Montinola, the increase in enrollment resulted in consolidated revenues of P3.79 billion, a 79% increase year-on-year. The network attributes its success to being able to ensure that learning continues for its underserved students throughout the past two years when they needed it the most.

“PHINMA Education’s learning models are designed to meet students where they are in terms of their resources, and take them where they want to be,” said Strategy Chief Trissa M. Menardo. “For our students, education does not only uplift themselves and their families, but also entire communities. We are proud to say that even throughout the pandemic, 71% of our graduates were able to get their first job within one year.”

Learning Strategies that Respond to Students’ Needs

Launched in 2020, Flex Learning and Remote and Distance (RaD) Learning both rely on printed materials and strong teacher and peer support through mobile data. The former will allow students to return to school once regulations allow, while the latter is completely home-based. Because the majority of its students could not afford to be online, it partnered with Globe and PLDT Smart to provide students with mobile data every month.

“Our students want to learn, no matter what. Their perseverance in the face of so many challenges inspires us to serve them better,” explained Menardo.

In SY 22-23, Flex Learning will move to a 2-4 system of 2 days in-person classes and 4 days of remote and independent learning. It will distribute students’ in-person classes throughout the week to comply with the minimum public health standards. Students and their teachers will be assigned to only 1 shift to limit the number of people inside the campus. Self-sufficient modules, alternative assessments, streamlined instructions, and most importantly, remote coaching, will be maintained for both Flex Learning and RaDLearning.

Efficient, Sustainable Operations Across Campuses

“Our students are more employable and our systems are more sustainable now because of our strategies and experiences over the past 18 years of rapid growth and expansion,” said Dr. Raymundo P. Reyes, Country Chief for the Philippines. PHINMA Education’s most recent acquisition is PHINMA Union College of Laguna (UCL), the second in its growing Laguna network of schools.

Construction is also in full swing to cater to an even bigger number of students. It recently opened the San Jose campus of PHINMA Araullo University (PHINMA AU) and acquired a new lot in PHINMA University of Pangasinan (PHINMA UPang) which will house a seven-storey building with a roof deck. It is also constructing a building in PHINMA Rizal College of Laguna (PHINMA RCL) and a new PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College (PHINMA COC) campus in Iligan City. And to upgrade its dentistry program, Southwestern University PHINMA (SWU PHINMA) is set to open its new Dentistry building.

Despite the challenges that threaten the continuity of education for many underserved students, PHINMA Education was able to grow its network by as much as 31%, welcoming over 95,000 students in SY 21-22. It attributes this success to its learning strategies that respond to students’ needs, as well as efficient and sustainable operations across campuses. Photo shows, from left: Learning Chief Francis L. Larios; President and CEO Dr. Chito B. Salazar; Finance Chief Daisy C. Montinola; Strategy Chief Theresa Anne Manalastas-Menardo; Corporate Affairs Chief  and Marketing – Indonesia Country Chief Buen L. Bontigao; Learning – Philippines Country Chief Glenn R. Laigo; and Marketing Chief Tharah Jane L. Chin.

Dr. Reyes explained that to ensure sustainability in its growing number of schools, it institutionalized an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) Policy across its campuses. All schools now have Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) and green technologies, including solar panels, rainwater catchment systems, gray water facilities, and sewer treatment plants.

Global Movement Serving the Underserved

Still in line with serving the underserved market, in January 2021 PHINMA Education spearheaded the first Education@theMargins: A Global Alliance conference, gathering education industry experts from several countries including South Africa, India, Australia, Finland, and the Philippines to tackle the widening gap in education, helping marginalized students cope with the pandemic, and using technology to provide solutions for marginalized education.

Dr. Salazar noted that PHINMA Education works with partners in both the public and private sector, all over Southeast Asia and the world, to reach as many underserved students as possible. “We are humbled and inspired by the trust our students have given us. We will continue to invest in our faculty, improve our systems, and respond to the changing needs of all kinds of learners. It is our hope that one day, not only will every student and every graduate’s life be improved, but they will also be able to make the lives of others better too,” he concluded.

For more information, please visit: https://www.phinma.edu.ph.