Radio tapped to raise English literacy of poor Mindanao villages
Households in poor, remote conflict areas in Mindanao will now have access to educational radio programs and school audio materials designed to improve English language literacy.
Last week, a partnership agreement was forged between the New York-based Real World Productions (RWP) and the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program calling for the production of radio programs on English for broadcasting in conflict areas in Mindanao. Through the USAID-funded IETLTM Project, the agreement promises to deliver educational content for AMORE-energized communities that wish to improve their English language skills.
AMORE is an alliance of USAID, the Department of Energy, Mirant Philippines Foundation, the ARMM, and Winrock International. It is committed to provide electricity to households in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It prioritizes barangays that cannot be connected to the power grid, and uses renewable energy systems such as solar and microhydro.
A key thrust of the AMORE program is the organizing and training of the communities to operate and maintain the renewable energy systems, including capacitating associations to raise and manage their own funds for their operations as well as for the replacement of worn-out spare parts and used-up batteries.
Some 227 villages have received electricity through the AMORE Program. The program also electrifies public schools to support distance education facilities.
With the entry of Real World Productions, the recorded audio materials, books, as well as lesson plans for elementary students are expected to improve the capacity of schools in teaching English proficiency in formal and non-formal educational settings.
Under the IELTLM-AMORE partnership, the AMORE-electrified households will have access to IELTLM’s English radio programs on the Radyo ng Bayan network, and IELTLM will provide selected AMORE-electrified schools its audio English learning and teaching materials and will train the teachers to use them.
The partnership supports the thrust of the barangay electrification program of the national government and the ARMM’s thrust of raising the quality of life in the region, through improved basic education. With Mindanao emerging as a promising international trade and business hub, improved English literacy will also boost the locals’ capacity to participate actively in a global economy.
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