REMEMBER the nervous anticipation of taking your first big exam? Imagine that feeling magnified immensely as thousands of Grade 12 students across the Philippines brace themselves for the National Achievement Test (NAT) this March. From bustling classrooms buzzing with last-minute study tips to quiet corners filled with focused determination, the weeks leading up to the NAT are a microcosm of hopes, dreams and anxieties. For many students, this exam represents the culmination of years of hard work and the gateway to their future aspirations. But the NAT is more than just a personal milestone; it is a crucial measure of our education system’s effectiveness, offering valuable insights into how well our curriculum and teaching methodologies prepare our learners.
At Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), we recognize that the seeds of success in such assessments are sown early. Since 1999, our mission has always been to build a strong foundation at basic education levels by providing learners across all grades with access to relevant and quality educational resources, and to training programs for educators. Our comprehensive library of video lessons crafted in alignment with the government-prescribed curriculum, combined with our training programs for child development workers and teachers and basic education teachers, serve as vital tools to strengthen foundational knowledge and skills across various subjects including English, Filipino and numeracy. It is with these combined interventions that we were able to influence the performance of learners taking the NAT.
A study done in 2009 by Dr. Dennis Mapa, then with the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Statistics and now head of the Philippine Statistics Authority, showed an increase of 2%-3% in NAT scores for schools that regularly watch Knowledge Channel programs. Valugan Elementary School in Batanes improved its NAT average from 55% to 80% in just one year by incorporating Knowledge Channel resources
To further support our learners, we scheduled regular NAT review segments on our channel months before the exam, ensuring students had access to focused review videos in key subject areas. In light of research underscoring KCFI’s positive impact on NAT outcomes and on the academic achievement of learners, we further improved our video lessons and kept them up to date with animation and motion graphics, thus transforming the teaching and learning experiences for both teachers and young learners. We have also intensified our focus on early language and numeracy development to improve foundational skills for NAT scores to reflect better learning.
The objectives of the NAT mirror our goals at KCFI—ensuring learners meet educational standards, enhancing instructional practices and using empirical data to refine and improve educational policies and delivery. Our suite of video lessons across critical subjects empowers educators, making learning more engaging, accessible and effective nationwide.
As we gear up for the NAT every school year, we encourage educators, particularly those guiding students in the lower grades, to leverage our video lessons in their teaching strategies. Integrating these resources early on can significantly impact learners’ preparedness, not only for the NAT but for their lifelong educational journey. By fostering essential skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and analytical reasoning from an early age, we are preparing our students for success in their immediate assessments and their future endeavors.
Reflecting on the impact of our initiatives, it becomes clear that our efforts extend far beyond preparing students for a single test. We are preparing our youth for the future. We have seen the need for early and continuous preparation and support for our learners.
As KCFI continues to develop and provide educational resources that empower teachers and inspire students, we invite you to support our mission. Your donations enable us to reach more learners across the country, ensuring that every child has access to quality education and the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Together, we can achieve more. Let us build a future where every learner thrives.
To support, please donate to the Knowledge Channel Foundation today through BPI Acct. No. 0201-0409- 14. For proper acknowledgment, kindly email a copy of your deposit slip to info@ knowledgechannel.org. Learn more about our initiatives and how you can help at knowledgechannel.org. (Story/Photos by: Rina Lopez)