To test and evaluate the contents, designs, themes, templates, and all other matters that will make its television episodes successful, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday started its final test broadcast for the DepEd TV.
During the virtual “Handang Isip, Handa Bukas” press briefing, DepEd Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS) Director Abram Abanil shared updates on the dry-run of DepEd TV episodes.
“I am happy to announce that we have a successful test broadcast this morning,” Abanil said. In partnership with various networks, DepEd is conducting a final test broadcast this week, Sept. 21 to 25.
Abanil said DepEd is currently conducting a dry run of 26 episodes – which corresponds to one whole day of TV episodes – to be aired starting Oct 5.
“The dry run is important so we can practice the logistical procedures that we will do everyday so we can broadcast at least 26 episodes amounting to 130 episodes per school week from Oct. 5 to Dec. 31,” Abanil said. “By Oct. 5, you can expect that we will have 130 episodes per week of TV lessons or lectures shown in major TV channels,” he added.
These videos will feature lessons on Alternative Learning System (ALS), lessons suitable for Kinder and other grade levels, movies for older students or those in Senior High School. Episodes on professional development of teachers as well as those directed to parents on how to supervise education under distance learning.
Currently, Abanil said these episodes are only for major subjects. “So far, we cannot produce episodes for all subjects but by January, 2021, if not earlier, we can expect that we will be able to produce around 220 episodes covering all the subjects in the Most Essential Learning Competencies,” he added.
Abanil said that the DepEd TV episodes will also be in local languages especially for Kinder to Grade 3. “So far, we only have English and Filipino but by January, we will also have episodes in Cebuano, Kapampangan and other major dialects in the country,” he added.
Currently, Abanil said that there are 107 teacher-broadcasters nationwide, mostly from Metro Manila. In the next two weeks, there will be 198 teachers coming from other regions in the country.
To ensure that its 130 episode per week target will be achieved, Abanil said there are 32 production teams to do post-production work in five operational studios. “We also arranged logistics in 18 public schools for teacher-broadcasters who want to shoot on site,” he added.