Pictured left to right: Nikki Bethell, Chief Media Specialist, Ministry of Education; Charles Knowles, Vice President & CIO, Commonwealth Bank; Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education; Ian Jennings, President, Commonwealth Bank and Denise Turnquest, Vice President Credit Risk, Commonwealth Bank.

Across The Bahamas, thousands of students are setting aside time for daily doses of TV, tuning into a series of lively, original Bahamian shows allowing them to interact with humorous characters, prepare for standardized exams, learn a language, create a science project or improve subject knowledge through educational music videos.

The music video shows, headed by a 3-man Ministry of Education team for The Bahamas Learning Channel,are now co-sponsored by Commonwealth Bank.Airing on ZNS weekdays from 5 – 5:30 pm, on Saturdays from 10 am – 12:30 and on Cable Bahamas Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 3:30 to 5 pm, The Bahamas Learning Channel attracts students, teachers and parents.

Programming with a purpose, it’s a modern media-based delivery system making learning everything from vocabulary to mathematics more fun.

This is the eighth year of The Bahamas Learning Channel, but the first time Education has partnered on the project with Commonwealth Bank, the education bank whose contribution to education at all levels to date tops $2 million, including a $500,000 endowment for the College of The Bahamas Emerging Leaders program. The bank also co-sponsors a back-to-school annual parenting forum, provides 10,000 backpacks and supplies for students throughout the islands and assists the Ministry of Education with computer equipment, projectors, screens, electronic whiteboards and other learning tools.

Now, the bank’s entrance into the televised education arena has paved the way for the resurgence of three of the most popular interactive game shows allowing students with different level capabilities and competencies to learn at their own personal pace and prepare for national exams, according to the channel’s executive producer Jevone Williams.

“This partnership with Commonwealth Bank will change the future of our country because the programs not only educate and expose our students but more importantly motivates them to be interested in all aspects of education and learning, helping create holistically developed students,” Williams said.

“The Ministry of Education is extremely appreciative of Commonwealth Bank for partnering with us on the creation or revamping of three of the most popular shows – Glat Attack, Family Island Glat Attack and Science Bowl -- as we change the face of education in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

For the bank, education and youth development are top priorities.

“Education is a critical component of our national development,” said Ian Jennings, Commonwealth Bank President. “What happens in the classroom from a very early age influences how the country evolves for decades, the progress we make, our ability to compete, our commerce, family and social relationships, standards, morals and ethics. We at Commonwealth Bank believe education is the key to a healthy society and we are committed to doing all we can, including this sponsorship ofThe Bahamas Learning Channel.”

The line-up of shows caters to various educational levels with programs covering basic science, math and vocabulary, including the newly revamped interactive game show named “The Commonwealth Bank Glat Attack” mirrored after Jeopardy and aimed at preparing sixth grade students for the national Grade Level Assessment Test. A separate Commonwealth Bank Family Island “GLAT Attack” will allow Family Island students’ skills and talents to be broadcast to the entire country. Other programs include the Commonwealth Bank Science Bowl, Spanish classes, Mad Science with sixth grade Abaco students, Gary the Explorer, Tell Me a Story with Bahamian stories and Once Upon a Time with customized Bahamian students’ stories.

“This donation to the Ministry of Education’s Learning Channel is one more step in our goal of creating the best possible education environment for the students of The Bahamas,” said Jennings.

Commonwealth Bank is The Bahamas’ most widely held public company with more than 6,000 shareholders, some 575 employees and branches in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco. The bank has paid quarterly dividends consistently since going public in the year 2000.