As there is no exact time when shall the schools be reopened due to this pandemic situation, REED Nepal who has been conducting “learning by radio program” since past few months has recently initiated a radio distribution program with an attempt to educate all the children by identifying those with no radio access at all. “On receiving the information about some of the students having no access to radio, we have started distributing radios ensuring all the students get their access to learning”, informed REED Nepal’s CEO, Mr. Bhim Bdr. Bogati.
Students have become happy after receiving the radio. Minraj Bhujel, a student of Sotang rural municipality studying in Hulu secondary school at grade six told that he wasn’t able to listen the program without the radio, but now he would listen it regularly. Same was the case with the student Kalpana Rai, studying in Birendrajyoti secondary school; neither she had a mobile with radio functionality nor the radio. She thanked REED-Nepal for its support at this dilemmatic condition in learning due to closure of school. Another student, Rakesh Kulung, studying at Pelmang basic school expresses his happiness after getting the radio. He says, “Yet I was deprived of listening the program without the radio, I have become excited to learn by listening to radio now regularly.” After the radio distribution, happiness has crossed no limit amidst parents and children.
Similarly, Chairman of Mahakulung rural municipality Sagar Kiranti thanked REED-Nepal for playing a significant role in education through conducting the radio program viewing the children of rural areas in light even in this adverse situation with barricade on teaching learning; and, distributing radios identifying the needy children reaching out to their individual homes.” Education Development Coordinator of REED-Nepal Solukhumbu Mr Keshav Giri informed that REED has already distributed radios to 20 of Mahakulung rural municipality, 15 of Sotang rural municipality, and 20 students of Thulung rural municipality respectively and has been planning to distribute children for other rural municipalities of Solukhumbu district as well by identifying them. Giri estimates that currently REED has planned to distribute radios for 150 students along with a potential increment in the existing data in future.
Since the beginning of lockdown, REED Nepal has been broadcasting the “learning by radio” program via the local FMs dated back to 21st of Baisakh. The program is being supported by Australian government’s ANCP program, DFAT, and Australian Himalayan Foundation. Prior to this also, REED had distributed radios to 650 students of Kapilvastu, Palpa and Rupandehi districts with the financial support of Karuna Trust Germany and BMZ support along with the coordination of GTN and FEDO Nepal. In view of the existing condition, REED has been conducting “learning by radio” program for basic level students (grade 1-8) in Solukhumbu, Taplejung, Palpa, Rupandehi and Bajhang districts.
