About

The Society for Strategic Education Studies Inc (S4SES) is a non-stock corporation established with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission for scientific, cultural, and educational purposes. 

S4SES envisions an educational system geared towards creating conditions that foster responsive, inclusive, rights-based, democratic, and sustainable teaching and learning environments and processes.  To achieve this, the Society actively pursues multi/inter-disciplinary studies in education as they influence educational discourse, policies, and practice; promote and forge linkages among various education practitioners and institutions within the country and other parts of the world; and uphold professional ethics.

S4SES was officially registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission on 6 July 2017, but the organization has been actively pursuing its vision for transformative education for the last four years.

Its history dates back to 8 July 2013, when its founders launched its working group called Educational Anthropology Network (EdAnthroNet) comprised of academics and students aligned with the Anthropological Association of the Philippines to uphold and strengthen the place of foundations of education in teacher preparation in the country.   In celebration of Anthropology Day, EdAnthroNet held a one-day “Conversations on Culture and Education” workshop at the UP College of Education.

Its next step aimed to broaden and deepen the social awareness of anthropology for the public interest.  Thus, during Philippine Anthropology Week in September 2013, the group launched an exhibit on Isabelo de los Reyes as an educational anthropologist-at-large at the UP College of Education.

In July 2014, S4SES collaborated with the UP College of Music in conducting “Sama-Samang Paglikha:  Improbisasyon”, a workshop for high school students of the Old Balara Christian Community School in Quezon City.

In July 2015, it initiated a workshop entitled “Teachers as Action Researchers: A Training Seminar-Workshop” for the Tarlac Agricultural University.

In April 2016, the society conducted a workshop titled “Introduction to Research in Music Education“ at the Philippine Normal University in collaboration with the Philippine Society for Music Education.

In response to the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the society has conducted online activities such as the Talas-Serye on present concerns in education. Pressing issues discussed during the Talas-Serye via the S4SES YouTube channel include contextualization and educational policy case studies, teacher emotional agency, and MTB-MLE.

In 2022, the S4SES, in partnership with the Silliman University College of Education, organized the first S4SES international conference online entitled “Education in Crisis: Dispositions and Problem-Solving Strategies Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which was attended by almost 300 educators from various fields and geographic areas.

The Society for Strategic Education Studies continues its commitment toward transformatory education by establishing Special Interest Groups, which include culture and arts education SIG, language education SIG, indigenous education SIG, and educational technology SIG, among others.

The S4SES is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees, which exercises corporate powers, including the power to conduct the business and control the property of S4SES. The members of the Board of Trustees elect a President, a Vice–President, Treasurer, and a Secretary from among them right after the election of officers.  

Current officers include Dr. Eufracio C. Abaya (President), Dr. Maria Mercedes Arzadon (Vice-President), Dr. Jocelyn Timbol-Guadalupe (Secretary), and Dr. Peter Romerosa (Treasurer).