The primary and mass education ministry is going to broadcast a primary lesson learning programme on radio to continue education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bangladesh Betar and 16 other community radios are to air audio or voice lectures for primary students at a time from August 12, ministry sources said.

The fifty-minute programmes will begin to be broadcast at 4:05pm from Sunday to Thursday every week.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossin will inaugurate the radio-based learning programme titled ‘Learn from Home’ or ‘Ghore Boshe Shikhi’ on August 12.

All the educational institutions across the country have remained closed from March 17 to contain the spread of coronavirus infection.

To minimize the loss of education, the ministry started broadcasting lesson learning programmes for primary students through Sangsad Television from April 7.

However, a large number of primary students remained out of the television learning programme as most of the families living in villages do not have either television or cable connection.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, about half of the primary and secondary level children are covered by TV facilities and the rest half remain out of it.   

Md Fashiullah, Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education, said that information was being gathered about who had internet and TV and who had not.

“It is true that many people are being deprived of access to education through digital technology. So, we are working on other options,” he added.

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Akram-al-Hossain told Bangladesh Post, “We have given priority to the safety of the students. We cannot put our children at the slightest risk. So, apart from television, we are starting radio lessons.”

He also said, “The television learning programme could not reach most of the students living in rural areas. Now, the radio programme will be heard through radio or the radio option of the mobile phone.”

“About 95 percent of guardians of students in the country have at least a mobile phone. If we start broadcasting radio programmes, these students will be benefitted,” he added.

The students will listen to the programme on the website of Bangladesh Betar—www.beter.gov.bd and also through the mobile phone radio option.

All educational institutions in the country have been closed since March 17 to prevent coronavirus infection.

The government extended the holiday in educational institutions till August 31 in phases.