KUALA LUMPUR – The home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) process has now been made easier with the launch of the special terrestrial education TV channel DidikTV, which began broadcasting yesterday.

From 7am to 12am daily, students can study while watching DidikTV, which will broadcast programmes based on the Education Ministry’s curriculum and co-curriculum covering preschool to Form 6, as well as news on the world of education.

Persatuan Permuafakatan Ibu Bapa Prihatin Sentul Kuala Lumpur president Zainoddin Ramelan said DidikTV is a good platform to help the smooth running of PdPR so that students do not lag behind in their studies.

“It also helps parents and enables children who do not have internet access, suitable devices, information technology (IT) skills and so on to study at home.

“DidikTV’s lengthy broadcast period will facilitate and encourage students’ learning process, while parents can also participate in monitoring and helping their children,” he told Bernama.

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Faculty of Human Development lecturer Prof Saedah Siraj said the channel is consistent with the needs of the moment, with face-to-face teaching and learning in schools not possible, and an effective alternative to PdPR.

“Television broadcast is a powerful way to bridge the digital divide in the education sector and the number of students who follow learning via television is higher. The probability of students not having a television at home is also lower,” she said.

Most educators agree with the establishment of DidikTV as a good alternative, as there were obstacles in efforts to adopt technologies such as virtual classes and mobile apps for PdPR earlier on, she said.

She suggested that the presentation of the television channel should attract students according to their age and subject content.

“An interesting presentation is more effective for the teaching and learning process. For example, the appearance of characters or actors trained to teach certain subjects will definitely help with learning. 

“Another example is how the history subject for secondary schools can be presented through films or videos,” she added.

DidikTV, launched by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday, also broadcasts edutainment, student-generated and lifelong learning content that focuses on good values and character development.

The channel, which was first introduced via channel 107 on MYTV, channel 147 on Astro and channel ntv7 on TV Unifi, is an ongoing effort by the ministry to increase access to quality education for students nationwide.

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