LAHORE: The Alight Pakistan and the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), in collaboration with Education Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, have launched an online distance learning educational programme on Radio Pakistan and FM channels for children in districts of Gilgit-Baltistan on the footprints of TeleSchool Channel.

Named as ‘Muallim,’ the radio programme would be aired on FM-93 Radio Pakistan and FM-91 Gilgit and Skardu at 2pm and at Radio Pakistan’s Medium Waves 1512 kHZ at 7pm daily.

The initiative would benefit hundreds of children who are unable to attend regular school due to the lockdown. Besides, it will be live streamed on the facebook pages of FM-93 and FM-91 channels. Recordings of these educational programmes would be available to download from facebook page andYoutube Channel of“Alight Pakistan”.

This online distance learning initiative by Alight Pakistan, NCHD and Gilgit-Baltistan Education Department would cater to educational needs of children in Grade-I, II and III as they would be taught subjects of Urdu, English, Mathematics and General Science with special focus on health and hygiene in a unique storytelling and easy-to-understand style by qualified and trained teachers. “Schools and colleges have been closed down and children are forced to stay at home due to coronavirus. This online distance learning initiative through Radio Pakistan and FM channels will help children keep themselves engaged with their studies,” said Dr Tariq Cheema, country head of the Alight Pakistan.

“As the uncertainty about containment of the pandemic and resultant lockdown prolongs, this distance learning initiative will mitigate the educational loss of children due to the closure of institutions and provide them with a learning opportunity at the doorstep,” said NCHD Chairman retired Col Dr Ameerullah Marwat who added that the whole world was heading towards distant learning because nobody knew as to when life would return to normalcy.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2020