Partners in education

What started as a motley crew producing the groundbreaking science ETV or educational television show Sineskwela has become a full-fledged production house with nine ETV programs to show for its decade-long existence.

The E-Media (short for Education through Multi-Media) program of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. produces the award-winning Math-tinik (math primary), Epol/Apple (English primary), Bayani (history), Hirayamanawari (values education), and Pahina (Philippine literature for high school) as well as the newly launched Detek Kids, a show on critical thinking, and Art Jam, a program demonstrating arts and crafts.

"The process from conceptualization to approval for airing can take anywhere from three to nine months for one episode," said production manager for the E-Media program Mariles Gonzales. "A Sineskwela script, for example, is reviewed by the Department of Education, the Department of Science and Technology, and our own psychologist-consultants for teachers and children. We have to test the episode for appeal and comprehension. If it’s a pilot for a new series, we must check the visual approach to see if the new technique works."

Wider reach

Nonetheless, the program’s reach continues to widen. Last year, it found homes in 777 additional schools through the kindness of private individuals and corporate donors. An estimated 1.8 million public school children now benefit from ETV infrastructure.

"Politicians such as senators, congressmen, governors, and mayors and also corporations approached for sponsorship are normally quite enthusiastic and willing to help. Our product works. It’s unique, it’s the pioneer in ETV. The only reason they will turn us down is if funds are not available due to prior commitments or other factors," said program development manager Gerry de Asis, who is tasked with soliciting sponsorships for E-Media facilities.

For P55,000, the donor’s chosen school receives one set of 108 DVD (digital video disks) of assorted ETV programs, a DVD player, and a 21-inch TV set. Each DVD contains four episodes per disk.

Incentives

Under revenue regulations issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue last year, 150% of donations made to public schools may be claimed as a deduction from the gross income of private entities. The regulations implement the tax incentives provisions of Republic Act 8525 or the "Adopt-a-School Act of 1998".

Donations made to public schools, with the assistance of ABS-CBN Foundation, qualify for this incentive. To become a partner in education, the private entity must have a creditable track record to be supported by a certificate of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission or with the Cooperative Development Authority, and should have been in existence for at least a year.

Assistance may come in any of the following forms:

• infrastructure such as the construction, repair, and maintenance of classrooms, libraries, toilets, and laboratories;

• teaching skills and development such as scholarship programs for teachers;

• learning support such as basic school supplies, textbooks and reference materials;

• computer and science laboratory equipment and library materials such as computers and ETV materials from ABS-CBN Foundation, and

• food and nutrition such as feeding programs

In 2003, the E-Media Program conducted 20 teacher training seminars covering 850 public school teachers.

Bago ‘Yan, Ah!, the science-oriented radio program of E-Media conducted the second "Titser’s Iskul on the Air", a joint venture with the University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education. Enrollees of the second course consisted of 77 elementary and 22 high school teachers from Regions III, V, and the National Capital Region.

"Donors are given the flexibility to choose the form of assistance, and the recipient schools," said de Asis.