MHPSS session in a school in Maguindanao del Norte |
Frontliners,
educators and community leaders in affected communities in Quezon being trained
in MHPSS as part of ChildFund Philippines’ Typhoon Karding emergency response. |
MHPSS session in a school in Maguindanao del Norte |
Frontliners,
educators and community leaders in affected communities in Quezon being trained
in MHPSS as part of ChildFund Philippines’ Typhoon Karding emergency response. |
Education is one of the sectors that has been affected dramatically by the pandemic. Aside from the threat of Covid-19, students, families, and educators face other challenges such as limited to no internet connection and expensive Internet data costs. To reach more students even in remote areas, the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Knowledge Channel to provide easier access to students through televised learning materials that will be aired on TV for students.
“Many Filipino students living
in remote areas are constrained by the accessibility and speed of Internet
connection, and the high cost of data to stay connected. Learning then begins
to feel like a difficult chore, and a hurdle to overcome. Yet, these households
have television sets even before mobile phones and laptops. We are hopeful that
we ease the challenges our students face as they will now have easier access to
free educational content aired in cable television channels,” said Joel Dabao,
PCTA President.
The
partnership was sealed through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with the DepEd and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to
make full use of their cable TV systems activating their member operators
participation in this national effort of airing DepEd TV programs for school
year 2020-21.
PCTA
members have agreed to air informational materials from DepEd TV that are
standardized for academic institutions nationwide. “Many remote areas will be
covered by this service, and we are privileged to serve as conduits of enriched
learning during this trying time. Our mission is to ensure that no Filipino
student is left behind,” furthered Dabao.
Education
Secretary Leonor Briones lauded the agreement during the MOU signing, as it
paves the way for the department’s access to television and cable for their
distance learning program, with cable provider access of up to three channels
to air content produced by the DepEd Central Office. These will be a valuable
resource for students who do not have access to the internet and those who
cannot afford to purchase gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets.
Aside
from airing DepEd TV materials, PCTA also announced a partnership with
Knowledge Channel which encourages PCTA members’ cable systems to include
Knowledge Channel in their line-up and air its TV-based educational content.
The
Knowledge Channel has long had a strong supporter in the PCTA since 2003.
Elvira Lopez-Bautista, President and Executive Director of the Knowledge
Channel Foundation, highlights that television can be a powerful tool for
learning and will help Filipino children absorb not only their academic lessons
but, also enhance values learning through engaging content.
“My
fervent wish is that through this bayanihan effort with cable providers,
distance learning will become more accessible, feasible, affordable, and most
of all, enjoyable for every Filipino child,” said Lopez-Bautista. “With
Knowledge Channel Foundation and PCTA working together, mas masaya matuto ng bago.”
“Now,
more than ever, education should be at the forefront of our concerted efforts
to build a society that is resilient even in the face of a pandemic. As we
forge these partnerships, we let the bayanihan
spirit prevail for the common good where we all work together for the
future of Filipino children,” added Dabao.
For
more information about the PCTA, visit www.pcta.org.ph
ABOUT PCTA
The
PHILIPPINE CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (PCTA), INC. is the
umbrella organization of nationwide Cable Television Operators and Internet
Service Providers in the Philippines. Its membership roster includes the
biggest cable operators in the country as well as the medium and small cable
operators who, through their pain-staking efforts, have succeeded in bringing
up-to-date programs, information, and technology to the farthest island in the
country. To date, the PCTA has over 300 regular members. Together, the PCTA
member-cable operators are serving 75% of the total cable TV subscribers in the
Philippines.
Globe further enhances its support to the Department of Education (DepEd) by helping public school educators keep up with the demands of the new normal through free professional development training designed to provide teachers with essential knowledge and skills on digital literacy, blended learning and 21st century learning methods.
The program is part of Globe’s Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) initiative and is being implemented through a combination of webinars and downloadable self-paced materials for teachers to apply their learnings. GFT was launched in 2009 to deliver information and technology-based training to public school teachers across the country.
With the nation’s shift to remote learning, Globe found it essential to partner with Habi Education Labs and Teach for the Philippines, as both are well known for their exceptional work in forwarding 21st century learning in public schools nationwide.
Habi Education Lab is a non-profit organization known for developing progressive approaches to teaching that helps foster creativity in the classroom. Their scope of programs include teacher development, learning experience design, and school innovation. Teach for the Philippines focuses its efforts on improving teacher quality and addressing education challenges at the system-level. Since 2012, TFP has grown into a nationwide movement that has engaged hundreds of new and existing public school teachers committed to work towards meaningful and positive change.
The upcoming GFT sessions to be led by both organizations have been recognized by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines which ensures all attendees obtain the knowledge and skills that are vital in these unusual and challenging times.
“We want to create new learning opportunities from the crisis and help our teachers see themselves as agents of change as they transition into remote and blended learning modalities. Through this professional development program, we hope to equip and empower them with the knowledge they need to become more effective in their role as educators,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.
The webinars cover topics such as parental engagement where teachers and parents can work together for home-school partnership (October 27); teaching reading in the context of distance learning as part of early language literacy (October 28), and new approaches in instruction using digital learning (October 29). The first webinar on Cybersecurity and Wellness was held last August.
The Global Filipino Teacher Series is open to all teaching and non-teaching staff of DepEd in the National Office, Regional Offices, and Division Offices, and to all public schools nationwide. The webinars will be streamed via the Globe Bridging Communities Facebook Page, and will be shared by DepEd on the main DepEd Philippines Facebook Page.
As a long-time advocate of quality education and sustainable development, Globe is committed to supporting the United Nations Development Goal No. 4 which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
For more information about Globe’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html