Aid in Action

Somalia Interactive Radio Instruction Program Changing Family Lives in Mogadishu

Students get daily lessons in essential skills without leaving home.

 | Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Eight year old Najmo lives with her parents in the Hodan District in Mogadishu. Najmo is among the fortunate few Somali students who have access to school, attending first grade at Al Imra School. In Somalia, only 20% of all children are enrolled in school, and public funding for primary education is among the lowest in the world. The new Transitional Federal Government is working to rebuild the education sector and to restore stability to the country, but fighting can still erupt at a moment’s notice.

When fighting recently erupted in Mogadishu, Najmo was forced to stay home. All the schools were shut down and children were not allowed to go out. Fortunately, Najmo’s family has a radio at home.

The Somalia Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) program, sponsored by USAID, is providing an alternative to regular classroom lessons. Through distance-learning classes on the radio, operated by Education Development Center, Inc., up to 400,000 Somali school children are receiving daily lessons in reading, math and life skills. The lessons are developed for grades one through six, but also give access to those that have missed out on educational opportunities, particularly women and girls, people who have left their homes due to fighting and illiterate street children. To reach the largest number of students throughout Somalia, the IRI programs are supported and delivered through a network of public and private schools and NGOs.

Najmo knew the broadcasting hours at her school. She started asking her mom and dad to tune in to the IRI radio lessons for her every morning, so she was able to listen to her lessons at home. Najmo said, “I like the radio lessons too much because I learnt many lessons without going to school. I am happy now, but I truly hate the fighting.”

According to Najmo’s mother, “My daughter is all morning busy with the radio programs. She has great enthusiasm for these radio programs and made us also love the program, I really wondered how fast she memorized the lesson stories and songs,  my daughter is intelligent!”

Her father also says,  “She asks me questions about her lessons and she required us to listen to the radio programs with her every day and answer her questions. We all thank those who prepared these effective radio programs for our kids. In fact, these programs don’t only influence the children in class but also their families and the whole community in general. Great opportunity IRI!”