STUDENTS in Central Luzon can now start their TV-based learning after the CLTV36 began airing the Department of Education’s TeleSkwela program.

The station, the only regional TV station in Central Luzon, airs K-12 programs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for the students in Region 3.

CLTV36 teamed up with the provincial government of Pampanga, the city government of San Fernando, and the local school boards of DepEd Pampanga and DepEd San Fernando to air the TeleSkwela program for free for students in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Bataan.

CLTV36 can reach an estimated 98 percent of students in Pampanga. The program’s telecast is estimated to reach over 1.3 million students, parents, and teachers in regions under CLTV36’s coverage.

“The most important element to this partnership is that TeleSkwela will be totally free — both for the DepEd to air their programs on our station, and for the students and families who wish to participate in the new learning process. For learners, all you really need is an antenna and a television, which most Filipino households have,” Sonia Soto, CLTV36 president and general manager, said.

The TeleSkwela program covers the entire K-12 curriculum, with each K-12 level assigned a 45-minute time slot per day.

Aside from the lessons, CLTV36 will also air locally-oriented news stories between lessons to allow students to be updated with current events and to connect these stories with their studies.

CLTV36’s partnership with the DepEd is the latest among a string of efforts made by the station to relay important news, developments, and updates to the people of Central Luzon and its neighboring regions.

“We recognize our responsibility to the people of the region. Despite the risk and the cost, we kept CLTV’s operations running even during ECQ. Now, we are proud to further this responsibility, by serving as a conduit for the programs of the DepEd. We are excited to support the DepEd, especially in creating learning opportunities for students through safe and effective methods,” Soto said.

As a subsidiary unit of the Laus Group of Companies, CLTV36 advances the LausGroup’s corporate goal to usher regional development by serving the educational needs of students amid the Covid19 pandemic.

Lisset Laus-Velasco, chairman and chief executive officer of the Laus Group of Companies, reiterated the company’s commitment to support countryside development.

“LausGroup has over four decades of experience when it comes to regional development. In that time, we’ve learned that the best way to generate a positive impact is to consult with all sectors, especially the government to learn and address the people’s needs. In a time when the media is vital to transitioning hybrid learning for students, we’re grateful to be able to position our media arm, CLTV36, to deliver them their modules every day. It’s an exciting start, and through TeleSkwela CLTV36, we’re happy to help DepEd prepare our youth as they become valued members of our societies in the future,” she said.

Aside from CLTV36, TeleSkwela will also be available nationwide through Cignal TV Channel 115.