Jollibee Group, DepEd Partner to Empower Future Food Service Professionals and Build Classrooms for Filipino Learners

The Department of Education (DepEd) and Jollibee Group sealed its partnership through the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the co-development of a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, and a memorandum of agreement for the construction of 50 classrooms by 2028. The ceremonial signing was led by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and Jollibee Group Philippines Chief Executive Officer and Jollibee Brand Global Head Joseph Tanbuntiong.

Strengthening its collaboration with the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), the Jollibee Group recently formalized a partnership to co-develop a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Senior High School (SHS) curriculum and build 50 classrooms by 2028 as part of its 50th anniversary.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the collaboration: “This partnership with the Jollibee Group is a strong example of how public-private cooperation can bring industry-relevant learning into the classroom. At a time when AI and tech disruption are reshaping industries and jobs, this collaboration gives our learners not only the right skills but also the resilience to thrive. 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.”

“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. As a company whose purpose is to spread joy, we believe we have the opportunity to help change these through the partnership with DepEd,” said Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Group Philippines Chief Executive Officer.

Empowering the next set of food service professionals

The Jollibee Group will be partnering with DepEd to co-develop a QSR curriculum tailored for SHS students under the Technical Professional (TechPro) track.

The program will pilot in schools nationwide and integrate classroom-based instruction with immersive on-the-job training across Jollibee Group brands. Students will learn key restaurant operations skills such as food preparation, customer service, safety and sanitation, and business communication—helping prepare them for careers in the food service industry after graduation.

Jollibee Group Philippines Chief Human Resources Officer Ruth Angeles emphasized the program’s role in promoting inclusive growth. “We believe in creating more pathways for young Filipinos to achieve meaningful employment. By investing in their skills early on, we also help raise the standards of service in the QSR sector.”

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

Creating spaces that inspire and nurture students

In parallel with this, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) also announced a commitment: to construct 50 classrooms by 2028 to help address the country’s classroom backlog. This initiative will begin with the building of six classrooms across three initial sites—Mindoro, Cebu, and Sarangani.

“This classroom building project is a key part of the Jollibee Group’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2028 and JGF’s 20th year this year,” said Gisela Tiongson, President of JGF. “Our vision is to help create learning spaces where every child, teacher, and community member can experience the joy and power of education. By investing in both programs and physical infrastructure, we contribute to a more empowered and resilient generation of learners.”

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

These efforts form part of Jollibee Group and JGF’s broader education agenda under the Joy of Learning program, which includes its flagship Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen feeding initiative. These programs collectively aim to create engaging, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments that foster long-term development in communities.