TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EDUCATIONAL RADIO BROADCAST DURING PANDEMIC, OPPOSITION MPS TELL GOVT

27 May 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: All Members of Parliament (MPs) from the opposition bloc have urged the Ministry of Education (MOE) to work with the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) in reopening the broadcast of educational programmes via radio as a complement to Educational TV and online home-based learning (PdPR).

The joint media statement by the Pakatan Harapan Education Committee and the Opposition Parties was issued by Dr Maszlee Malik (Chairman of Pakatan Harapan Education Committee), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR), Teo Nie Ching (DAP), Datuk Dr Hasan Baharom (Amanah), Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda), Dato 'Wira Amiruddin Hamzah (Pejuang), and Ahmad Hassan (Warisan)

They suggested that the government increase radio-based educational materials through the Education Resources and Technology Division and the State Education Department to be given to national and state radio stations, both public and private.

“Obtain cooperation of telecommunication companies to fund education programmes through radio for students who do not have internet access. Educational Radio is a low-cost technology that has shown a positive impact since the early 1920s around the world.

“Educational Radio broadcasts were even used during the Polio epidemic around 1937 in the United States as an effective distance learning. Now it has evolved and is known as Interactive Educational Radio.

"The non-visual feature is a unique strength as students cannot see the visuals that are the topic of discussion and must pay full attention to the audio message conveyed to imagine and digest the aspects of learning taught,” the joint statement read.

They are of the opinion that learning through radio broadcasts is one of the mechanisms that should be used by the MOE, especially for rural and remote communities as they face internet access restrictions.

In addition to the existing internet-based learning methods, the MOE should provide a more holistic platform to facilitate all teachers and students, they pointed out.

Although urban areas have internet access many students are still unable to participate in online learning as some of them do not have the gadgets such as computers and laptops.

They said, learning through internet platforms can only be enjoyed based on demographics and ownership of appropriate learning equipment.

"Although the MOE has launched Education TV broadcasts through the private sector through paid airtime slots 17 hours every day with the DidikTV brand since Feb 16, it cannot function fully due to limited broadcast slots."

In this regard, they urged the MOE to reactivate educational broadcasts via radio as a complement to TV Education and online education (PdPR).