Top broadcasters to train teachers

MANILA, Philippines — Leading broadcast journalists will take part in a training program for teachers involved in the production of educational materials for the upcoming school year.

The training is part of the plan of the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) to produce education materials that will be aired over television and radio as part of the blended learning setup.

These materials aim to supplement the education of students this school year, which will primarily be delivered through printed or digital modules.

Education Undersecretary Alain del Pascua said the training program will help teacher-broadcasters to be effective presenters on television.

It also seeks to help them understand the different roles of those involved in the production of broadcast materials, he added.

TV5 news chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes will serve as senior trainer and adviser, along with anchor and host Paolo Bediones as lead trainer.

DepEd said among those who have committed to take part in the training were leading broadcast journalists Jessica Soho, Korina Sanchez, Karen Davila, Arnold Clavio, Kara David, Atom Araullo and Kim Atienza.

The lineup also includes broadcaster journalists Sandra Aguinaldo, Abner Mercado, Jacque Manabat and MJ Marfori, grooming coach Issa Litton, voice director and trainer Pocholo Gonzales and educational content creator Lyqa Maravilla.

“We are very fortunate to have the decades of combined broadcast and hosting experience of multi-awarded broadcast journalists and television and radio personalities from the country’s biggest networks GMA7, ABS-CBN and TV5 to guide our teacher-broadcasters for DepEd TV,” said Pascua.

He said the training of teacher-broadcasters has already started with sessions held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and Los Baños.

In addition to the training, Pascua said the agency is also planning to build broadcast-ready studios across the country for the use of school division offices.

DepEd information and communications technology service director Abram Abanil said their target is to produce 130 DepEd TV episodes per week when classes open on Oct. 5.

These will cover major subject areas under the most essential learning competencies identified by the agency.

DepEd will conduct its final test broadcast on Sept. 21 to 25 on IBC-13 and other partner networks.

Pascua said they are also finalizing partnership with other cable operators and broadcast networks for the airing of the education broadcast materials.

“We are potentially looking at the future of education here. Apart from online learning, which we are pursuing through DepEd Commons, television and radio continue to be very effective channels for instruction and education, hence the DepEd TV and DepEd Radio,” said the DepEd official.