Montessori Training for Day Care Teachers
More than 260 day care teachers and supervisors in Cebu City have received specialized training in Montessori education as part of an effort by the Cebu City Government and Cebu Paradise Montessori School (CPMS) to strengthen the city's Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program.
The initiative aims to enhance the quality of teaching for young children through continuous professional development. The training focused on Montessori principles, which emphasize child-centered and experiential learning to strengthen children's learning foundations.
Mayor Archival Emphasizes Continuous Improvement
During a recognition ceremony, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival highlighted the importance of lifelong learning for teachers. He discussed the concept of Kaizen, or continuous improvement, which helped Toyota grow through small but effective changes.
"As teachers, you need to continue to improve in what you’re doing," Archival told the participants. "You need to continue to evolve and find ways to improve how you teach." He encouraged teachers to embrace innovation and constantly seek better ways to serve children.
Revival of Professional Development Program
Cebu City Education Consultant Joy Young said the professional development program for ECCD teachers started in 2008 but was interrupted due to changes in city leadership. "The training did not continue due to changes in city leadership. Under the current leadership, the 10-day training is revived," Young said. She added that this is the first Montessori training for ECCD teachers in Cebu City and a major step in strengthening early childhood education.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña commended Young's long-standing dedication to promoting quality education.
Two-Phase Training Program
The training was divided into two phases. The first batch consisted of 60 cluster heads, supervisors, and teachers who had previously attended Montessori trainings. They completed the 10-day Montessori Mentorship Training Program from May 18 to 30, 2026. The second batch, comprising 203 ECCD teachers new to Montessori education, attended the Basic Montessori Training Program from June 1 to 13 to learn the foundations of Montessori teaching and child-centered methodologies.
Public-Private Partnership
CPMS President and Founder Marivic Bathan said the collaboration between the private sector and local government is a significant step in improving children's education. "This is very historic," Bathan said. "We cannot readily find people in government who are so aligned with family and children. It is very fortunate for us that the city leadership understands that the window of opportunity to develop children is really during the first six years of life." She noted that the collaboration, which began in 2008, has become more organized through mentorship and evaluation. "This is how public-private partnerships should work," she added. "Each brings something essential, and together we ensure that investment in education truly benefits children."
Bathan thanked Cebu City ECCD Program Head Martha Ricablanca for leading the four-week training. The program also included play therapy, non-violent communication, mental well-being, healthy living, environmental awareness, and organic gardening, as well as the creation of instructional materials. "The focus is really preparing the adult," Bathan said. "We wanted transformation to start from within the teachers themselves."
After the training, the mentorship program is expected to continue to further strengthen Montessori education in all ECCD centers and enhance the quality of learning for children attending day care centers in Cebu City.
