Gusto kong magamit ‘yung boses na meron ako para maipalaganap ‘yung mensahe na kailangan marinig ng sambayanan. Gusto ko maging part nung advocacy para mamulat natin ‘yung mga tao sa kung ano ba talaga ‘yung sitwasyon ngayon. – Alden Richards
Kapuso TV and Film actor Alden Richards takes the step on a journey across the country that uncovers the country’s issues involving a worsening learning crisis in a GMA Public Affairs Education Special titled Rebuilding Broken Rooms, airing on GMA and on Kapuso Stream on August 8, 2026 (Saturday), at 21:30.
As the education special’s title implied following repeated promises of educational progress in the Philippines, the reality faced by millions of young learners remains deeply concerning. According to the World Bank (2022), 91% of 10-year-old Filipino children struggle to read and comprehend. As students advance through school, their proficiency continues to decline, raising urgent questions about the country’s worsening learning crisis.
The educational documentary program holds deep personal significance for Alden, whose experience of leaving school at a young age to help provide for his family inspired his lifelong commitment to education. The actor continues to use his platform to create new opportunities for the youth, with nearly fifty (5) scholars receiving support and helping build schools in underserved communities.
It will open at Tinungkaan Elementary School in Alabel, Province of Sarangani, a school identified by EDCOM II that had the highest percentage of struggling readers, where its students are classified as low-emerging readers. Despite challenges involved by crossing rivers and climbing mountains each day with Teacher Gerwin to reach their makeshift classrooms, the students remain determined to learn.
Furthermore, Rosario Almario Elementary School, situated in Tondo, Maynila, recorded the highest percentage of low-emerging readers in Metro Manila. Only seven among the ten students from that school have struggled to read and comprehend. Among them is a Grade 2 student, Jannah Will, who still cannot read a sentence in full. She sometimes misses school because her family cannot afford transportation. Although another school is located nearby, it has remained closed following a fire that hit two years ago.
Classroom shortages in some schools, including Ciudad Nuevo Elementary School in Naic, Cavite, also posed challenges to learning space improvisation. Additionally, Calubcob Elementary School made use of its vacant housing units within a residential project as temporary classrooms, enduring them against extreme heat, noise, and unsuitable learning environments.
Alden shared what he witnessed about the challenges faced by students and teachers from the documentary, and something that deeply moved him because many children have already accepted these inadequate conditions as normal.
Paano natin naiparanas sa kanila na okay na ‘to? Hindi siya okay, Hindi natin dapat ipa-realize sa mga kabataan na ito ‘yung normal na way to be educated. Kasi hindi ‘to deserve ng mga batang gustong matuto, Alden asserted.
The documentary special promised that it will answer to the country’s growing education crisis and highlight the determination of children in fighting for their right to learn and educators who refuse to give up despite limited resources.
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