The SKY-KCFI partnership gives over 250,000 students in far-flung areas access to the learning materials of Knowledge ChannelOver 250,000 students in farflung areas unreached by advances in media technology nationwide now have access to the curriculum-based learning materials of Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), with its partnership with SKYdirect, SKY’s direct-tohome satellite TV service.

Utilizing satellite television technology, SKY brings Knowledge Channel to homes via SKYdirect, which requires no heavy transport of equipment and can reach remote areas where satellite television signals are available.

“Through our partnership with KCFI we are able to deliver quality education across the country and stories of hope for these children,” SKY Corporation president and chief operating officer March Ventosa said.

KCFI aims to establish a solid educational foundation via curriculum-based multimedia learning resources. These materials are aired over the foundation’s on-air counterpart, Knowledge Channel, and are used by teachers to make learning more attractive to young students.

“Through the SKYdirect connections which households everywhere could subscribe to, KCFI found an ally to ‘reach more and teach more’ learners of all ages and socioeconomic brackets,” said Rina Lopez-Bautista, KCFI president and executive director.

Moreover, “every single day, with SKYdirect, we are able to ‘reach and teach’ those who most need to be reached and taught. These are the students enrolled in schools in the farthest corners of the Philippines, including children in day care centers, those under the Alternative Learning System, and the general public especially in areas where SKYdirect is the only available platform that can receive and transmit Knowledge Channel,” LopezBautista added.

Over 10 years ago, Knowledge Channel helped increase the average score of students from Valugan Elementary School, Basco Central Elementary School and Basco Science High School in the National Achievement Test to more than 20%.

“The observed higher level of performance among students is enough reason for us to keep on working with Knowledge Channel,” Ventosa said.

SKY plans to donate more SKYdirect kits to schools nationwide through its continuing partnership with KCFI.