USAID, Deped to produce gender-responsive, socially inclusive TV episodes for all grade levels
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child on October 14 by deepening their commitment to produce gender-responsive and socially inclusive Deped TV episodes.
In line with the celebration’s theme: “Digital generation, Our generation,” which calls for increased access to digital technology, as well as improved digital learning and literacy, USAID is partnering with the Education Department to train more than 500 TV script writers and teacher-broadcasters in creating gender fair and inclusive educational TV episodes across all grade levels and subject areas.
USAID will also support the addition of Filipino Sign Language insets and subtitles to 200 episodes, conversion of another 200 episodes to radio-based instruction, translation of 50 episodes to mothertongue languages, and production of 16 new Deped TV episodes in English and Filipino subjects. These efforts will help more than 25 million Filipino learners, according to the US Embassy.
USAID Philippines’s Office of Education Director Dr. Thomas Leblanc emphasized the importance of digital inclusion as a critical element to children’s well-being and to ensure the success of learners, especially girls in the most difficult and vulnerable conditions: to learn, to earn, and to have their voices heard.
“The partnership between USAID and Deped is one step to promoting digital inclusion, especially among young children—girls and boys, of all abilities— wherever they are in the Philippines,” Leblanc said.
“With support from USAID, we are using technology to ensure inclusive education for all, especially during this pandemic,” Education Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua emphasized. “All children, regardless of their gender, race, beliefs, and social status must be assured of quality education—may it be in traditional classrooms or through a digital approach of learning.”
Del Pascua added, “As Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones always says: ‘Walang batang maiiwan.’ [No child will be left behind].”
The assistance is part of USAID’S “All Children Reading Philippines:” a fouryear, P253.67-million ($5 million) project which supports Deped in improving reading outcomes for early-grade learners.
For the past 60 years, USAID has worked with the Philippine government and local organizations to achieve shared development goals, investing more than P258.75 billion ($5.1 billion) to support the country since 1961.