Press Release: SC Johnson continues its partnership with Teach for All to improve literacy outcomes for under-served populations in ASEAN countries
Sep 26, 2023 (Bangkok): World Literacy Day serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of literacy, worldwide and in Southeast Asian countries. The reading scores of these countries in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assessment fall below the OECD average of 487, with Malaysia at 415, Thailand at 393, and the Philippines at 340. [1] This data underscores the pressing need to address literacy challenges in these regions.
The literacy problem has been exacerbated by school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning loss is an issue faced by public schools globally, particularly affecting high-need schools where students come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. With the increase in time away from school, students are also more likely to be subjected to ‘learning loss.’ UNICEF’s analysis shows that in “many countries with learning loss is proportional to the duration of school closures – and around the globe, schools for 168 million young people closed for almost a full year [2].”
Across three countries in Southeast Asia, SC Johnson has partnered with Teach for Malaysia, Teach for the Philippines, and Teach for Thailand to improve literacy and provide quality education through its support of each organization’s core Fellowship Programmes as well as other Leadership and Student Development Programmes.
SC Johnson believes that a positive impact should be made in communities around the world where they operate. SC Johnson is proud of the partnership with the various Teach For network organisations which has enabled the opportunity to create pathways for greater social mobility for under-served communities leveraging their expertise. Access to quality education is essential for the next generation and as a family company at work for a better world, SC Johnson is glad to be able to support that.
SC Johnson supports these independent Teach For network organizations to recruit, train, and place promising talents within their respective educational systems. The Fellows not only contribute to the immediate classroom needs but also become part of a growing network of alumni who are passionate about education equity. Their impact extends beyond individual classrooms, making a lasting difference in their nations by addressing the root causes of educational disparities and learning loss.
Teach For Thailand is a charitable organization with a mission to develop collective leadership to expand educational opportunities for children in Thailand. They do this through the “Fellowship Program” where they recruit high-potential candidates from all backgrounds to teach in economically challenged schools for 2 years. The participants or “fellows” work in partnership with other stakeholders in the community to provide students with an enhanced education that will allow them to shape a better future for themselves and those around them. Through their 2 years of experience, fellows gain the foundation for a lifetime of leadership and eventually become alumni working across sectors to effect change.
SC Johnson’s support allowed TFT’s Fellowship Program to serve more than 19,000 children in 50 schools across 15 provinces in 2022. The fellows utilized their leadership skills to help their students improve both academic and non-academic performance. Outside of classrooms, TFT has established Collective Visions in various parts of the country so that the communities are involved and engaged in children’s education, which ensures the long-term sustainability of their impact.
“Because of this partnership with SC Johnson, we were able to attract the highest number of candidates to date to join our 1st day of Institute. There is no better way to celebrate the impact that this partnership has had on Thai education than this” said Teach For Thailand CEO Vichitphol Pholphok.
[1] PISA (2019), PISA 2018 Results Combined Executive Summaries https://www.oecd.org/pisa/Combined_Executive_Summaries_PISA_2018.pdf
[2] UNICEF (2021), COVID-19 and School Closures https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/COVID19-and-school-closures.pdf
About SC Johnson
Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin USA, SC Johnson believes that a more sustainable, healthier and transparent world that inspires people and creates opportunities isn’t just possible – it’s our responsibility.
A heritage of innovation and bold, transparent decisions is why our high-quality products and iconic brands – including OFF!®, Raid®, Glade®, Windex®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Ziploc®, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, method®, Autan®, Baygon®, Mr Muscle®, Duck®, Lysoform® and more – are in homes, schools and businesses in virtually every country worldwide.
As a global, purpose-led company, we are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations. That means relentlessly bringing our expertise in science, innovation and partnerships to bear on some of the world’s most pressing environmental and health issues like reducing plastic waste and eradicating malaria. Around the world, we use our resources to unlock greater economic and educational opportunities for people and communities where access may be limited, but curiosity and potential are limitless.
See how SC Johnson is a Family Company At Work For a Better World by visiting scjohnson.com or joining us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
