Thesis Abstract

The place of radio for educational purposes has been significant since its development in the 19th century. Despite being overshadowed by television, radio remains a vital medium for education due to its ability to reach large audiences at a low cost. Studies have shown that using radio as a supplementary learning tool is more cost-effective than traditional teaching methods. Radio provides access to educational content in the comfort of one's home, addressing the lack of materials in traditional classrooms. In Nigeria, there is a significant literacy challenge, with an estimated 10 million children out of school and 60 million illiterate adults, accounting for 38% of the population. The country is ranked among those with the highest levels of illiteracy globally, with the number of illiterate adults increasing over the years. Technology has played a crucial role in addressing literacy challenges, particularly in Nigeria. The Technology Enhanced Learning for All (TELA) initiative, a collaboration between the American University of Nigeria and USAID, aims to improve literacy and numeracy skills among underprivileged children in Adamawa state. Through radio-based programs, TELA provides basic education to vulnerable children, with assessments such as the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Maths Assessment (EGMA) ensuring readiness for learning.

Thesis Overview

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

1.1         Background of the Study

 

 

The place of radio for the purpose of education has been around for some time. The radio technology was developed in the 19th century and became an educational medium in the 20th century. Although according to Couch (1997) radio has been overshadow by television over the years but still remains a vital and viable medium for educational purposes in a large mass communication settings. Radio has the capacity to deliver quality educational programs to large audiences in an expanded geographical expanse and at a relatively low per unit cost (Couch, 1997). According to a studies conducted by UK Open University shows that when the radio technology is used as a supplementary learning tool for educational purpose. The Agency for International Development has revealed that it is more cost effective to use radio for educational purpose than teacher and textbook (Tripp and Roby, 1996). The use of radio as an educational tool cannot be disputed considering the cost effectiveness and the fact that it helps in improvising for materials that are lacking in a normal class room system (Muller, 1985). The radio can be listening to in the comfort and private of people’s homes which can provide the requisite knowledge for educational purpose.

 

Literacy and Nigeria

 

 

A recent USAID study also indicates that an estimated 10 million Nigerian children are not registered in school. A disclosure by a former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, equally indicates that;

“The number of adults who cannot read and write in the country is estimated at 60 million, which is about 38% of the country’s population estimated at 170 million” (Daily trust, 13 2014)

 

The revelation was made by Wike at the flagging off of the 2014 International Literacy Day.

 

 

The declining fortune of literacy ratio among Nigerian children is, indeed, an embarrassment to the nation as we currently have over 10.5 million children out of school. The current Education for All, EFA, Global Monitoring report ranks Nigeria as one of the countries with the highest level of illiteracy. The EFA report on Nigeria affirmed that the number of illiterate adults has increased by 10 million over the past two decades, to reach 35 million (Hatch, 2015).

 

Technology Enhanced Learning for All (TELA)

 

 

The technology enhanced learning for all has made a significant change in the lives of people, especially in Nigeria. The Technology Enhanced Learning for All (TELA) is a program that seeks to help the less privileged kids to learn Literacy and Numeracy with the use of Radio. TELA is a project of the American University of Nigeria in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development (USAID). The main aim of the project is to help the vulnerable kids of Adamawa state to learn the basics of Literacy and Numeracy, before the program started there was an Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Maths Assessment (EGMA) that the kids took to make sure they are ready to learn.