Teachers, students, and parents are experiencing many challenges brought about by the pandemic. That is why Knowledge Channel Foundation, ABS-CBN, Globe Telecom, and Mary’s Way Foundation have partnered for the Big Blue Hearts Campaign, which provides them the tools for teaching and learning such as internet modems and internet load.

With these tools, students can now access the video lessons from the Wikaharian series, a show on Knowledge Channel that teaches children to read in Filipino.

Introduced to Grade 1 classes in 18 public schools in Sta. Rosa, Laguna in 2019 through KCFI’s Basa Bilang project, Wikaharian was able to help improve the performance of the said students in tests.

According to Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. president and executive director Rina Lopez Bautista, the performance of Filipino students in successive international exams has been low in recent years, but it has been aggravated by the pandemic.

“Parents, students, and teachers now experience difficulty in adjusting to online or distance learning. Not all parents have the capacity to be teachers to their children. They also need load, gadgets, and stable internet connection,” Bautista said.

Dr. Manuela Tolentino, Schools Division Superintendent, Schools Division of Sta. Rosa, meanwhile, said that students will benefit from the donation of modems with loads because the hardship lies in the economic situation of the families.

“They cannot buy these loads for their children having online classes, especially of three or five children are studying and need many internet sources,” she said.

“Big Blue Hearts” is the latest of the several public service initiatives by ABS-CBN and Knowledge Channel Foundation that help provide education to students in need.

“Sagip Kapamilya” has launched the “Gusto Ko Mag-Aral” program, which provided copiers and other materials to schools, initially, in the Visayas region. The team is preparing a donation drive in Mindanao.

Bayan Mo, I-Patrol Mo also launched the “Papel Mo Sa Kinabukasan Ko” project, which donated bond paper to DepEd’s list of “last mile schools” which were used in modular learning. As of today, five schools in Rizal, 10 in Catanduanes, 10 in Cagayan, and seven in Isabela have received the donations.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN Foundation and Sagip Kapamilya’s “Tulong-tulong sa Pag-ahon Para sa Edukasyon” project in partnership with Knowledge Channel Foundation gave a total of 2,000 learners' kits consisting of school backpacks with school supplies, including books from Bato Balani Foundation in areas hit by Typhoon Ulysees in Rizal last year.