So as not to waste time, money and effort, the Department of Education (DepEd) sought Sunday, March 28, the development of localized DepEd TV episodes to avoid duplication of content.
Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua asked field offices to develop localized DepEd TV and Radio content to expand the accessibility of various TV and radio-based instructions.
"Let us not reinvent the wheel, let us not also duplicate efforts already made. Kapag nakagawa na ang DepEd TV ng episode, huwag nang gumawa ang regional offices. Sayang ang panahon, sayang ang effort, at sayang ang pera,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday, March 28, as DepEd TV is currently focusing on creating video content for the 5,689 Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs).
The DepEd said based on the the K to 12 curricula, MELCs had been streamlined to 5,689 from the original 14,171.
The 60-percent reduction is part of the Department’s Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it said.
Pascua described as crucial the discussion of new topics and distribution of video instructions for DepEd TV in all of the regions.
"Outside of the MELCs, pwedeng mag-concentrate ang ibang division at eskwelahan. Ito ay magkaiba sa gagawin ng DepEd TV. Actually, magiging complementary at support ito (Outside of the MELCs, other division and schools may concentrate. This is different from what the DepEd TV will be doing. Actually, this will serve as a complementary and support for distance learning) ,” he said.
He asked those regions, divisions, and schools with TV and radios to produce Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) video and audio for K-3 lessons, considering that it has yet to be undertaken by DepEd TV.
“The Central Office-led DepEd TV uses mainly English and Filipino languages in its episodes. All MTB-MLE videos must be produced at the local levels at this time. They can be made with new productions or the DepEd TV episodes may be dubbed using the local language,” Pascua said.
“Explore ‘yung hindi mako-cover ng DepEd TV at DepEd Radio para sa ganoon, ‘yung mga output ninyo, video man ‘yan or radio, mapapakinabangan pa rin at puwede nating i-upload sa DepEd Commons at DepEd TV YouTube Channel upang magamit ng mas maraming learners (You shoulf explore those that cannot be covered by DepEd TV and DepEd Radio so that your output, be it video or radio, it will be used and can be uploaded at DepEd Commons and DepEd TV YouTube Channel so that it can be used by many learners),” he added.
DepEd TV is the main television-based instruction initiative of the Department. It has produced 1,981 episodes from the first quarter to the third quarter of school year 2020-2021, the DepEd said.
The DepEd-Information and Communications Technology Service-Education Technology Unit (ICTS-EdTech), headed by Director Abram Y.C. Abanil is leading the agency's DepEd TV and DepEd Radio projects, under the Administration Strand, led by Pascua and Assistant Secretary Salvador Malana III.