MSC Foundation and UNICEF launch a new programme to transform education for 400,000 children in the Philippines

The new programme “The Learning Bridge” aims to tackle profound learning setbacks and boost literacy, numeracy and teaching quality for vulnerable children in Mindanao.

Today, the MSC Foundation and UNICEF announced the next phase of their 16-year partnership, which has already generated USD 17 million in cumulative contributions. This new chapter introduces The Learning Bridge, a new programme designed to transform education and learning for around 400,000 children in the Philippines over the next three years.

The Learning Bridge aims to address the acute learning crisis in Mindanao, the second largest island of the Philippines, where years of poverty, past conflict and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the country’s lowest school enrolment and literacy rates. Ongoing challenges like frequent extreme weather events, inadequate facilities, limited resources and lack of qualified teachers continue to widen the learning gap for children and adolescents on the island.

From new teaching methods that can enhance learning for large numbers of students, to a floating school designed to ensure learning continues for an indigenous community whilst coping with recurrent floods, this critical programme will directly confront many of the interconnected challenges facing children and adolescents by implementing innovative, scalable solutions to improve foundational and socio-emotional learning.

“Our relationship with UNICEF began more than 16 years ago and formed the cornerstone of the MSC Foundation when it was founded in 2018,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the MSC Group’s Cruise Division and Chair of the MSC Foundation Executive Committee. “Together, we have shown how innovation rooted in shared purpose can help to transform children’s lives. This new programme in the Philippines is especially meaningful to us because many MSC employees and crew members who inspire our mission come from this country, reflecting both our partnership with UNICEF and our support for the communities that our people call home.”

“Education is crucial for children to break intergenerational cycles of inequality and poverty and build brighter futures. We are grateful for the MSC Foundation’s renewed support that will enable us, together with the Government and local communities, to deliver innovative and scalable solutions to improve vulnerable children’s access to quality education, including those on the frontline of the climate crisis,” said Kitty Van der Heijden, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director.

Key interventions include strengthening community-based disaster preparedness, investing in digital learning, and providing essential resources and expertise to put regional initiatives into practice:

In Caraga Region, the programme introduces a climate-smart floating school ensuring uninterrupted learning for children in flood-prone areas and serving as a model for climate-resilient education infrastructure. Teachers will receive training in learning recovery strategies, including targeted tutoring and teaching at the right level.

In BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), the programme supports early childhood education and learning recovery through teacher training, play-based learning methods, and curriculum innovation, aiming to improve school readiness, increase enrolment, and enhance foundational skills in literacy and numeracy. The initiative is designed for sustainability and national scalability.

By fostering resilient educational systems and empowering children with essential skills, “The Learning Bridge” aligns with the Philippines’ National Development Plan, promoting lifelong learning. This partnership between MSCF and UNICEF demonstrates how the private sector can support the work of UNICEF and government partners in finding solutions that will lead to long-term economic and social progress.

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