AMIDST the global health crisis that prevents children from physically attending schools as per normal, the Guyana Learning Channel (GLC) is working to ramp up its broadcast of educational content to children in Guyana, reaching those who hadn’t access in the past.

The Guyana Learning Channel was set up for this purpose but the coronavirus pandemic has proven even more valuable, its contribution. The Guyana Chronicle reached out to Head of Distance Learning at the GLC, Anesha Mohammed, who told the newspaper of the plans on stream, working along with the Ministry of Education.

Already, the Learning Channel has six stations through which it broadcasts its information, namely channels three, five, 10, 24, 29 and 80. Arrangements are now being made to get more channels on board so that children do not have to wait until a specific time of the day before content suitable to their level is aired.

“Every region has just one channel available. We want to streamline it in a way in which we have multiple channels available in one district. A Grade Four student wouldn’t have to wait until around six o’clock to get their content, they can look at another channel and be able to work at the same time as another grade,” Mohammed explained, adding:

“We are currently in talks with several persons to assist with this… we’ll also be soon featuring our content on E-networks as they’re on E1, E2 and E3. They’ve offered to air some of content free of cost.”

Meanwhile, effort is being put into restoring access to stations previously on board. Only about three days ago, the Learning Channel was able to restore access to its programme on Channel 10, which broadcasts to persons in Essequibo, after two years of the coverage being down.

Early this week, broadcasting challenges affecting Corriverton are expected to be rectified.

In Ituni, the Learning Channel is not being aired because of a satellite issue, but talks are ongoing with the National Communication Network (NCN) on changing this. Over at Bartica, similar works are ongoing.

“We are working to restore other affected areas. We have technicians and we have people on-site working to make sure that everyone has access,” Mohammed said.

PROGRAMME QUALITY

On these channels, the GLC is also looking to improve the quality of its programmes, airing content suitable for each grade from nursery up to Grade 11. Recently, a call was put out for teachers within this grade range to submit a two-minute video displaying their ability to engage children creatively for the ultimate selection of hosts for the various new programmes to come on board.
The Distance Learning Head said: “Response has been very good with that. I actually just came off of a Zoom meeting with one of our potential hosts… we don’t want to make it a mundane, boring experience. We want to boost that with as much creativity as possible when it comes to delivery. [For example] engaging kids in live, hands-on experiments, making it a new approach to learning in this COVID-19 time,” she said.

For children who may miss the televised programmes, these will be uploaded on the Guyana Learning Channel’s YouTube page and, already, programmes aired recently have been uploaded. A quick skim through the YouTube page shows that videos had not previously been uploaded to the medium within the last four years.

Providing this content on online platforms will also make it more accessible to children in hinterland and riverine communities, who may not have access to the televised programmes but can watch the same via an Internet hub.

“We have content aired on the channel but I don’t think it’s being maximised in terms of what we’re creating and what we’re putting out there. So, having it available on the Internet at all times [is good]. We also have the Ministry of Education’s website that will have all resources on there,” Mohammed said.

She explained the GLC’s ultimate objective is to ensure education is delivered throughout Guyana in an equitable manner.