Jollibee Group investing in education, partners with DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — The Jollibee Group is investing in the education sector by empowering future food service professionals and helping address the country’s classroom backlog.

The group has signed a partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) to co-develop a quick service restaurant (QSR) senior high school curriculum and build 50 classrooms by 2028 as part of its 50th anniversary.

“I have always believed that education opens doors – lifting up individuals, families and entire communities. But in many parts of the country, teachers and students continue to face challenges that can make learning more difficult. And then there’s the gap between school and work that leaves many students underprepared for employment,” Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Group Philippines chief executive officer, said.

“As a company whose purpose is to spread joy, we believe we have the opportunity to help change these through the partnership with DepEd,” Tanbuntiong said.

The QSR curriculum – to be co-developed with DepEd – will be tailored for senior high school students under the technical professional track.

The program will pilot in schools nationwide and integrate classroom-based instruction with immersive on-the-job training across Jollibee Group brands.

In preparation for careers in the food service industry after graduation, students will learn key restaurant operations skills such as food preparation, customer service, safety and sanitation as well as business communication.

The Jollibee Group said the work immersion component of the QSR curriculum will begin in the upcoming school year, with lessons from the pilot session to be used to refine and potentially expand the program to more schools in the future.

Meanwhile, the Jollibee Group Foundation has also committed to construct 50 classrooms by 2028.

The classroom construction initiative is set to roll out in 2026 and will continue through 2028.

It will begin by building six classrooms across three initial sites: Mindoro, Cebu and Sarangani.

“This partnership with the Jollibee Group is a strong example of how public-private cooperation can bring industry-relevant learning into the classroom,” Sonny Angara, DepEd Secretary, said.

Angara said the collaboration gives learners not only the right skills, but also the resilience to thrive at a time when artificial intelligence and tech disruption are reshaping industries and jobs.

“The commitment to build 50 new classrooms by 2028 also shows how this partnership invests in both knowledge and space, ensuring that more Filipino students are equipped for the future of work,” he said.