In this post pandemic age, much of the international development community has switched to digital formats for the dissemination of information. Virtual classrooms and meeting methodologies were quickly established and expanded along with increased use of digital apps for cell phones.
These methods have reached many people and provided much needed information related to food production, health, nutrition, gender based violence, and a vast array of other topics. However, these formats still leave many parts of the developing world behind.
Before the advent of these “new “ technologies, there was radio. In the decade of the 1960’s, the number of radios increased at astounding rates. The number of radios in South Asia increased by 380% and in Africa by 271%. By 1969, there were over 10,000 radio transmitters around the world broadcasting to 653 million radio sets in almost 200 countries. (Radio for rural education in developing countries : a critical review of strategies, M.A. Khan, 1977, p 21) Radio is still a popular and inexpensive method of communicating.
It is estimated that there are over 44,000 radio stations in the world. In Africa, radio stations outnumber both newspapers and tv stations.
The advantage of radio as a learning tool is that the content can be locally produced in a relatively short period of time, it can reach large numbers of people very quickly, and can broadcast in local dialects.
Radio can help overcome some of the problems of poverty, literacy, gender, connectivity, and access to information that are found with other formats. Lets not forget this “old” technology in our rush to the next new innovation.