The Klaus Hoffarth Center for Critical Thinking (KHC) was formally launched in Miriam College on August 28 with the blessing of its library. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte delivered the opening remarks while DepEd Undersecretary Ronald Mendoza was the keynote speaker. Mendoza spoke about reforms in the education sector under the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who said that “Instead of memorization, we are shaping students to become critical thinkers and have 21st century skills.”
KHC, which was established in partnership with Miriam College through the generous support of alumna Dr. Victoria Bantug Hoffarth and her son Paul, aimed to empower the next generation of Filipinos to become engaged, responsible, and questioning citizens capable of making informed decisions about issues affecting themselves, their communities, and the country.
“With the Philippines facing significant economic, social, and political challenges, we were inspired to create an initiative that could make a meaningful impact,” said Gerry van der Linden, Chairperson of the KHC Advisory Council. “When there are more questioning minds in the country, more people who do not just accept the way things are — we can contribute to a better future for Philippine society.”
The Center is named after the late economist Dr. Klaus Hoffarth who spent many years in economic development, including at the Institute of Economic Research in the University of Munster,
Germany; the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation; the Asian Development Bank; and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the UK.
The library, which was designed by Leandro V. Locsin Partners will be the center of several activities such as lectures, debates on critical thinking and good governance; film screenings;
story-telling and summer boot camps. It is also envisaged to be a resource center for reference materials and literature on critical thinking.
