Learning channel signal to reach Amerindian communities shortly

- President

Georgetown, GINA, September 5, 2011

The recently launched 24-hour learning channel that revolutionizes the way education is delivered across the country will be received in Amerindian communities within one month President Bharrat Jagdeo assured.

The National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) had initially identified July to begin broadcasting programmes in Amerindian communities but officials gave the next month or two as the new timeline to President Jagdeo.

“The kids, whether you live in Aishalton or Paramakatoi or any part of the country, can see the remedial math lessons, science, english and all of the other programmes now run on the learning channel that we just established,” President Jagdeo said at the opening of Amerindian Heritage Month 2011 on September 1.

The station was established at a cost of just under US$1M which covered the cost of the infrastructure while additional sums were spent on the content that is being aired on a 24-hour basis.

Apart from content focusing on the school curriculum, the channel also airs special programmes with pertinent information on HIV/AIDS, maternal health, diabetes, hypertension, road safety and other such issues.

The Head of State had given the assurance at the launch of the channel earlier this year that it will be one with a difference giving no space for politics since Guyanese “need one channel with a break from politics.”

“What we are launching today is not just a television station that will broadcast educational content, we are launching an industry that will provide opportunities for our people and will see the delivery of educational material being revolutionised and hopefully will lead to a much more educated population,” President Jagdeo said at the April 1 launching.

Enthusiasm is high about the channel augmenting the plan to familiarise Guyanese with computers when 90,000 families receive laptops under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme.

It is said that the learning channel can broadcast content on the use of the basics of computer usage simultaneously to the OLPF learning hubs which will be established in various communities for residents to access basic computer skills.

Speaking at the launch of the learning channel, President Jagdeo had expressed the view that the capacity to generate content that is country specific, continuous and of a good quality may be challenging but, at the same time, this may provide an opportunity for persons who may be interested in producing content for television.

The learning channel is a satellite broadcast system with content targeting to a primary and secondary audience of pre-schoolers, kindergartners, primary and secondary school students, early school leavers, life-long learners, parents, educators, farmers and other individuals interested in instructional education programmes in their preferred area of interest.