Tuba, Benguet school reaps benefits of SM school building turned over in 2019

Seven years ago, Tuba Central School (TCS) had to make do with overcrowded classrooms, each accommodating up to 53 students on a typical school day.

- 

The learner population of the then 84-year-old public primary school, located in the quaint-meets-modern municipality of Tuba in the province of Benguet, was almost 600.

Without a dedicated computer lab, learners relied on mobile phones for research, while teachers often used their personal laptops to teach technology-related subjects. Some even lent their devices to ensure their students could gain hands-on experience.

The learning environment at Tuba Central School (TCS) took a significant leap forward when SM Foundation, in partnership with SM Prime and the Philippine Stock Exchange Foundation, turned over a two-story, four-classroom building on August 9, 2019.

Building on this commitment to quality education, SM Foundation returned in 2024 to carry out its school building maintenance program—ensuring that the facility remains safe, well-maintained, and conducive to learning for years to come.

"The SM Foundation School Building helps us augment the lack of a building in our school. With the facility, we can accommodate more enrollees amidst the increasing number of learners," TCS Principal Jennifer Cados started, sharing the impact of SM Foundation's project.

IMPROVED ENVIRONMENT, LEVELED-UP ABILITIES Maria Margareth Mae Dacpano, a Grade 6 learner who was already studying at TCS before the turnover, noticed the positive impact of the new classrooms on the learning environment.

"We have more classrooms now, so my schoolmates no longer crowd in a single classroom. We can focus better on studying and avoid conflicts because of overcrowded classrooms and discomfort," Dacpano said.