“Broad Class – Listen to Learn” Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI), an instructional tool designed to deliver active learning by radio. The content covers all basic skills in national curriculum (including literacy, numeracy, English and life skills). The lessons produced cover both national and regional languages. The characters of the program are both male and female. The daily 45 minutes radio
broadcast includes lessons of 30 minutes, health tip of the day, life skills and civic education, rhymes, stories and teacher guide. Audio lessons guide teachers and students through activities, games, and exercises that teach carefully organized knowledge and skills. During short pauses built into radio scripts, teachers and students participate in radio program, reacting verbally and physically to questions and exercises posed by radio characters. The radio teacher provides instructions to boys and girls specifically saying boy….., now girls……… The program exposes learners to regular, curriculum-based content and models effective teaching and activities for teachers. In addition to radio-delivered instruction, the program enriches the learning environment by engaging resources already available (including, for example, teachers, local cultural artifacts such as rhymes/songs, games and the environment, instructional materials in the classroom such as books and blackboard, the expertise of local community members, and locally available materials (such as bottle tops and sticks) to create a blend of good teaching and learning practices. The objectives of the project are; 1) To improve the learning outcomes in basic subjects in primary school (KG-Grade II) by improving literacy, vocabulary, numeracy and counting, physical, social and emotional health; 2) Increasing access to basic education for all learners of school going age 3)Promote child centered practices at primary level ; 4) Improve quality of teachers through several capacity building measures for acquisition of student centered pedagogical skills; 4) Introduce basic health education and life skills to young children Reduce dropouts and increase retention rate; 5) Increase participation of parents in schools through planned motivational programs;
The program is implemented through baseline survey, teacher training, provision of radios to partner classrooms, broadcasting of lessons through radio, technical assistance and dissemination of resource material. Members of school councils and local communities are sensitized on importance of education and involved in program activities.
