Afghanistan Distance Learning Teacher Training

Summary

The radio program Knowledge is Light provides direct audio teacher training and basic education content to remote schools via satellite radio. This project seeks to expand the program’s reach.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Less than 25% of the rural population is literate and the devastation wrought by 23 years of war has virtually eliminated any physical infrastructure or social service delivery. Less than 15% of Afghan teachers are estimated to have undergone formal training. These under-prepared teachers work with no instructional materials. Knowledge is Light currently reaches 5,500 teachers and 150,000 school children. The expansion will allow it to reach an additional 25 teachers and 1,000 students.

How will this project solve this problem?

Each week the teachers will learn new teaching techniques, poems, ideas for the classroom and landmine awareness information. Afghan teacher trainers in Kabul help create the programs and our Afghan staff conducts outreach and assessment activities.

Potential Long Term Impact

Providing teachers with the necessary training, promotes a greater awareness and encouragement of learning to the entire community. Better teachers will lead to better students, promoting long-term change.

Project Message

This program is a very good teacher trainer for all the teachers. We are finding very good ways of teaching and the programs have really helped us improve the teaching quality.
- Ms. Gawhar Taj, Principal of Zer Dawra Primary School

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources