Filipino graduates need 21st-century competencies to thrive in adverse circumstances, according to a policy note from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). The government-funded think tank emphasized that educational institutions must provide spaces for learners to acquire these qualities.
National Teachers College (NTC) SmartClass Homeschooling is addressing this need by delivering education that integrates real-world learning and complex concepts, cultivating abilities like critical thinking, problem-solving, grit, and initiative. These skills are essential for navigating a future expected to be more disruptive.
Backed by the NTC and Apec Schools, SmartClass offers these features for an all-in package of P35,000, aiming to provide accessible homeschooling that prepares students for today’s world.
Maria Van Aguilar, a parent to a seventh grader in SmartClass, shared that her daughter has learned to complete school tasks independently. “What I like about SmartClass is that it really develops the child’s sense of responsibility and independence,” said Aguilar, highlighting the program’s emphasis on student responsibility.
Professionals affirm that SmartClass students are gaining in-demand skills for the modern workplace. For example, in an integrated social studies lesson, eighth graders used their knowledge of programming and history to design virtual museums illustrating facts about the Holocaust through a 3D exhibition.
Florence Castillo, a SmartClass parent and Data Enterprise Engineer, acknowledged the value of these lessons. “Using Java, using HTML, programming, creating websites, and all that, that’s a very advanced lesson,” she said. “When they graduate, surely they will have a job.”
Asynchronous homeschooling
Mirasol Dela Cruz, another parent, praised the practical nature of the homework. “My son is only 14 years old but he’s already making that kind of stuff,” she said, referring to her eighth grader’s work.
SmartClass offers a fully asynchronous homeschooling program for elementary education (Kinder to Grade 6). For Junior High School (Grades 7 to 10), the program includes online synchronous classes and offline tasks, with recorded online classes providing flexibility for high school learners.
Parents appreciate the program’s teachers, known as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), who support students through online classes and scheduled consultations. “There is a person who is there to help you and your kids with the subjects,” said Cherille Siquete, a SmartClass parent.