Ayala's first venture in the education sector, APEC Schools was founded in 2014 after signing a 7.5 million dollar joint-venture agreement partnering with LiveIt Investments Ltd and Pearson to build 12 schools under the APEC Schools brand. The first branch of APEC Schools was opened in Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila in 2013. In 2015, APEC Schools opened 11 additional branches in Metro Manila and Rizal, in addition to its 12 branches that opened in the first year of operation.
Educational programs
The private school chain offers students a world-class education for as low as ₱64 a day as the tuition fee. APEC Schools currently offer an affordable education providing excellent knowledge, boosting professional skills and values formation. It offers Grade 7 to 12 high school programs under the K+12 program set by the Department of Education started with the pilot project at the APEC School's first branch in Manila. 100 students were given a curriculum tailored for the better employment in the future, after the project, students learned new skills such as bank loans processing, created an Android phone or set-up an IT team. The teachers currently use an internationally-standard advance curriculum from Pearson and DepEd that focuses on main subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, Health, Filipino, MAPE, TLE and Social Studies. APEC also offers "Life Labs" for students that will solve a problem in their community and find solutions in the whole semester period through interviews and research. Students are also encouraged to speak in English. As a measure against bullying in schools, all APEC Schools branches are equipped with close-circuit television cameras for monitoring. Fully air-conditioned classrooms will also be utilized. In 2016, APEC Schools announced that they will offer 3,500 seats for free for Grade 10 graduates in public high schools who will interested in entering Grade 11 or senior high school. Classes will be start on July of the same year. APEC School offers the Learning with Industry Collaboration for senior high school consists of three features: English mastery, technology immersion and connection with employer partners.
