Me and my Knowledge Channel family at Rosa Susano Elementary School in Novaliches for the launch of our eco-activism project, “EcoProject,” during their Brigada Eskwela programIn May, the Asian Development Bank Institute published a working paper titled “Compulsory Kindergarten Education and Early-Teenage Literacy in the Philippines.” This study found that children who attended kindergarten before starting grade school were more likely to develop functional literacy, which UNESCO defines as the “capacity to use reading, writing, and calculation for personal and community development”—a step above only knowing how to read and write for its own sake. However, the same study noted that these advanced, higher-order skills are developed from the simpler foundational skills.

At the Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc., we are keenly aware of the importance of these fundamental skills. This is why we developed the “Basa Bilang” project—to help Filipino primary school learners to confidently read and do math through the help of educational media so that by Grade 3, they have grown into independent learners, confident problem solvers and critical thinkers. But we know that just creating fun and informative video lessons is not enough; we need to empower our teachers to use these modern materials through sharing with them the necessary knowledge and skills.

We know and clearly see that our educators are at the heart of the learning process. Thus, we have structured our Knowledge Channel Learning Effectively through Enhanced and Evidence-based Pedagogies (LEEP) training program around this central role that our educators play in the learning and development of our youth. Through specialized LEEP rollouts, key education stakeholders—K-12 teachers, child development workers and teachers, barangay health workers and nutrition scholars, parents and caregivers—can improve on their knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices related to modern-day pedagogy and learning. We not only train our educators; we also give them a confidence boost for driving change in their classrooms, communities and the education sector as a whole.

Without our teachers’ resolute passion and effort, society as we know it would cease to exist. It is through their determination and hard work that our children learn how to become doctors, scientists and artists. Their guidance has helped not only our current students but also our younger selves to realize our fullest potential and reach our dreams.

Whether it means paying out of pocket to provide their students with learning materials or working until dawn to thoughtfully develop lessons for the week, there is no obstacle too great for our teachers. Despite the lack of funding and resources, they continue to strive for safe and responsive learning environments for every Filipino child.

Our teachers face various challenges every day, from crowded classrooms to massive workloads that compromise both their physical and mental health. Yet, even with how exhausting and thankless it can be, they still show up and pour their heart and soul into teaching. That’s why this September, as the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) spokesperson for the private sector, I invite you to join us for our 2023 NTM celebration. With the theme “Together 4 Teachers: Appreciation, Admiration, Approval, and Attention,” we want to celebrate and honor every Filipino teacher through different events and activities, which we hope can blossom into long-term solutions and collaborations for improving our educators’ quality of life.

Help us empower more teachers through our video lessons and professional development programs. Donate to the Knowledge Channel today through BPI Acct. No. 0201-0409-14, or learn more about us on our official website: knowledgechannel.org. Please email a copy of your deposit slip to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for recording purposes.

(Story/Photos by:Rina Lopez)