Islamabad: Pakistan’s education ministry has launched a Radio Schools project to offer remote learning opportunities for children particularly in disadvantaged communities amid the raging second wave of coronavirus.
Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Radio Pakistan, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, for the formation of Radio Schools.
Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz, Secretary Education Ms Farah Hamid Khan, and Secretary Information and Broadcasting Ms Zahida Parveen attended the signing ceremony.
The Radio Schools project has been launched to ensure children’s access to education at home and to make up for the educational loss of schoolchildren as COVID-19 continues to disrupt learning.
“This step has been taken under the light of prime minister’s vision of providing education to each and every child” according to official statement. Radio Schools would broadcast educational programmes from 10 am to 12 pm in the morning and the lessons will be repeated in the evening. The programmes can also be accessed through Internet and mobile App.
The project aims to reach those kids who have limited access to Internet, electricity or computers. One of the key objectives of the project is to reach girls in far-off and disadvantaged communities who do not have access to schools. “Our government was providing education to students especially the girls at their door steps aiming at to provide education to them” said Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood.
Education tool
In April this year, Pakistan government launched TeleSchool, a dedicated educational TV channel to engage children through various remote learning methods, as schools in Pakistan remained closed for nearly six months due to the pandemic.
The TeleSchool project, launched by Education Ministry and Pakistan Television (PTV) continue to benefit around eight million children daily, according to the ministry. The project was launched within 15 days to continue providing education to children after abrupt closure of schools in the wake of COVID-19.
“Those who do not have access to Teleschool, would now take benefit from Radio Schools project” the education minister said, adding that radio is a far-reaching and easily accessible education tool.
The education ministry officials say they are making all-out efforts for the development of distance education system in the county and to integrate it as compulsory part of national education policy, the education minister said.
