More students across the country will be able to attend classes via television and the internet as SKY partners with the government in strengthening the Department of Education’s distance education program amid the pandemic.
SKY signed memorandum of agreements (MOA) with key DepEd Divisions in regional areas, giving schools in Baguio, Laoag, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos, and Zamboanga access to DepEd TV shows on cable.
Under the agreement, SKY will give DepEd TV a dedicated channel, which will air lessons per week, covering the most essential learning competencies prescribed by the government.
Meanwhile, in a separate MOA with the DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and the Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, SKY has committed to providing 32 DepEd priority schools nationwide a SKY Fiber connection, giving them access to the DepEd classes online.
DepEd aims to present lecture classes, courtesy of carefully selected broadcaster-teachers in the country. Teachers underwent a series of training on how to deliver interactive class episodes for students. Helping DepEd in training the educators are a number of renowned broadcasters of major local networks including Karen Davila, Kim Atienza, Jaque Manabat, Abner Mercado, and Korina Sanchez.
"We are here in support of the vision set out by the secretary that education must continue," SKYcable president and COO Antonio Ventosa said during the signing ceremony.
Knowledge Channel responded to the call of the government to support distance learning amid the pandemic as it launched the “School at Home” Campaign.
On Aug. 24, Knowledge Channel started airing week 1 lessons in Filipino, Math, Science, English, and Araling Panlipunan for the First Quarter from Kinder to Grade 10 and the Alternative Learning System, giving children the opportunity to start learning ahead of the opening of classes. As the school year began last October 5, Knowledge Channel has been airing the same video lessons for week 1 of the First Quarter.