NCCT grants P1M to KCFI for ‘Ready, Set, Read’The National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) awarded P1 million to Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) as part of its initiative to support the production of educational television shows under its National Endowment Fund for Children’s Television (NEFCTV).

The funds will be used to produce new episodes of KCFI’s flagship program in English for the primary grades called “Ready, Set, Read.” Five grantees were awarded, including Love Life Project for Health and Environment Inc., Jumpcat Experiment, UPLB Foundation Inc. and Ateneo de Naga University.

NCCT chairperson Luis Gatmaitan said during the ceremony memorandum of agreement signing on Zoom and on Facebook Live: “It was a dream of NCCT to see a revolution of sorts in children’s television programming… With the National Endowment Fund established to help further the production of child-friendly or child-directed TV programs, we at NCCT were more than happy to see its fruition.”

KCFI president and executive director Rina Lopez thanked NCCT and the people who have championed and supported the foundation through the years. She also underscored the gravity of the learning crisis in the Philippines.

“Working in the education sector for the past 22 years, we have learned that kids struggle in school and now at home because they lack or have not mastered the skills they need in order to get through their grade level…The learning crisis is real and it is here today. And each of us has an important role in ending the Philippine learning crisis. Let us act together now, let us act now. Let us act fast.”

Said NCCT council member Alice Pañares: “I have to thank, bow to Knowledge Channel because they were visionary. They were fulfilling our role of giving our children wonderful shows not only to entertain but more to educate. They have TV shows for all the subjects.”

Knowledge Channel is set to work with NCCT to produce new episodes of its flagship program for English. (Story/Photos by: Michael Ramos)