Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
‘Wikaharian’ is designed to help young learners read and write in Filipino using interactive media based on Filipino culture
MANILA, Philippines — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Knowledge Channel Foundation, Incorporation (KCFI) launched 25 new episodes for the educational series Wikaharian on Thursday, June 26.
The animated series hosted by Teacher Michelle Agas features curriculum-aligned interactive video lessons, sing-alongs, and short stories narrated in Filipino. It hopes to help alleviate the Philippines’ growing literary crisis in recent years, marked by poor reading comprehension and declining fundamental skills among students.
The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) revealed that public students are four to five years behind expected literacy levels, a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, a UNICEF study found that Grade 3 students were already a year behind in literacy, a gap that has since widened significantly.
Knowledge Channel Foundation president and executive director Rina Lopez shared that the launch of Wikaharian is a focused initiative aimed at improving reading and writing skills in Filipino among young students, while engaging them to connect to their Filipino identity and values.
Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs of the Senate committee on culture and the arts, was instrumental in channeling support for the series through the NCCA. She stressed the value of embedding culture and creativity in the educational process.
“If you make learning enjoyable — may kanta, may animation, makulay, mayroong aspeto ng kultura — I think mas madali matuto [ang mga mag-aaral] ” Legarda said, adding that this approach is vital in helping teachers and parents make learning more interesting and engaging for children.
(If you make learning enjoyable — with songs, animation, vibrant visuals, and elements of culture — I think it becomes easier for students to learn).
Knowledge Channel is the Philippines’ first and only curriculum-based TV channel, launched in 1999 by the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. They have connected 1,550 schools to cable, which has helped bridge learning gaps and promote accessible education for over two decades.
Wikaharian is part of Knowledge Channel’s Basa-Bilang program, which aims to develop fundamental knowledge in early education. The series complements existing educational shows such as Ready, Set, Read! for English literacy, and Mathdali for foundational math skills.
The programs are accessible online via YouTube and iWantTFC, broadcast on-air via SKYcable Channel 5 and Cablelink Channel 4 (for areas in Metro Manila), SKYcable Channel 203 (for regional areas), and available offline through the Knowledge Channel Portable Media Library. – Blaise Rellata/Rappler.com
Blaise Rellata is a Rappler intern from Mapua University.
