Last April 25, 2024, students from APEC Schools New Manila embarked on an insightful campus tour of the National Teachers College (NTC). The visit, organized jointly by the two partner schools - NTC and APEC, was made to introduce the students to the opportunities available at one of the esteemed teacher education institutions in the country and provide a sense of direction to the transition of students to new academic environments, as the New Manila branch of APEC Schools is set to permanently close at the end of the academic year.
The NTC Campus opened its doors to the students of APEC Schools New Manila with a warm welcome from the school administrators and student ambassadors as they led an introductory session at the NTC Social Hall, where they went over the rich history of the institution and its commitment to excellence in fostering teacher education. They also discussed the various Senior High School strands, college programs, and student organizations or clubs available to the students. Student leaders and alumni from NTC also shared their experiences with the school and the role it played in shaping their future.
Afterwards, APEC students were led to the food laboratory where they were able to observe the space in which NTC culinary students do their practical work and exercises, equipped with all the necessary cooking equipment needed to hone their skills. From there, they moved on to the state-of-the-art mock cafe where NTC hospitality and tourism management students practice their skills in food and beverage service and customer relations.
They were also able to check out a mock hotel room also provided to the hospitality and tourism management students of NTC, equipped with all the amenities of a modern hotel room, such as a plush bed and furnishings. The tour then proceeded to the NTC library where students can enjoy a decent collection of books from their shelves across genres, but mostly educational. A unique feature of this library were the cubicles that were definitely keeping the students’ needs in mind as they can be used for groupworks, meetings, discussions, or just an overall space for them to study or read with some privacy.
To finish off the campus tour, NTC provided snacks and refreshments to APEC students and they were given a couple of classrooms to occupy in order to rest and recuperate from the day’s activities. As APEC New Manila students boarded their buses back to the branch, there was a sense of excitement and inspiration that filled the air, grateful for the opportunity to visit the NTC campus, which for some students, may be a glimpse into the next chapter of their educational journey.
