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| (Image Source: Facebook/Knowledge Channel) |
Seeking to widen access to curriculum-aligned instruction, the Department of Education (DepEd) recently soft-launched DepEd TV through a partnership with Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) and Solar Pictures' educational broadcast platform Solar Learning. DepEd TV’s curriculum-aligned programs are powered by Knowledge Channel and will be carried across its broadcast, digital, and offline platforms, supported by Solar Learning’s infrastructure.
In a statement, DepEd said, “These channels span broadcast distribution through cable, direct-to-home satellite, and digital terrestrial television.” The new DepEd TV will feature digital learning resources and offline solutions such as school-based TV packages and portable media libraries to help teachers integrate video lessons into daily instruction without internet connectivity. The agency added, “KCFI will support DepEd in packaging and programming curriculum-aligned episodes for broadcast for school use, including offline deployment options for low connectivity communities.” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the partnership supports DepEd’s efforts to modernize instructional delivery while advancing learning recovery initiatives, stating, “Kung mas marami tayong paraan para makarating ang dekalidad na aral sa bawat tahanan at paaralan, mas malapit tayo sa pangarap ng Bagong Pilipinas. (The more ways we have to deliver quality education to every home and school, the closer we are to the dream of Bagong Pilipinas.) DepEd TV will help us close learning gaps by bringing structured, curriculum-based lessons directly to our students.”
The DepEd TV soft launch features a daily programming schedule offering lessons from Early Childhood Development for Kids to Grade 10, arranged into structured blocks across major learning areas. The education department said, “The planned broadcast grid for School Year 2025–2026 presents sequenced episodes in English, Filipino, Math, Science, Araling Panlipunan, and MAPEH, allowing learners to follow a predictable and standardized televised curriculum,” while Secretary Angara commented, “Malaking tulong din ang mga programang ito upang mapalakas ang pagtuturo at pag-aaral sa pagbasa at pagbilang, lalong-lalo na ang mga nasa Kinder at Grades 1 to 3. (These programs will also be a big help in strengthening teaching and learning in reading and numeracy, especially for those in Kinder and Grades 1 to 3.)” DepEd TV content is aired through Knowledge Channel and broadcasts daily for 16 hours from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, available on digital free TV via BEAM channel 31 nationwide, SKYCable Channel 5 in Metro Manila, SkyTV Channel 32 in provincial areas, Cablelink Channel 3 in Metro Manila, and PCTA-affiliated cable operators as well as on Cignal channel 146 and Satlite channel 182 for direct-to-home (DTH) viewers.
The lessons airing on DepEd TV powered by Knowledge Channel aim to ensure continued learning when face-to-face classes are suspended and can also be accessed by learners staying in evacuation centers. The agency said the technical plan includes simulcast and delayed broadcasts, as well as satellite feed integration, to support consistent programming nationwide. Initial DepEd TV coverage through Solar Learning, on the other hand, includes NCR and selected provinces in Luzon with further expansion planned following system testing and quality checks. According to the agency, the soft launch will serve as a pilot phase to evaluate system performance and regional access before the nationwide rollout.
