Could a radio lesson keep learning moving?

As schooling was interrupted in 2024, UNICEF described work with Haiti’s education authorities to support distance lessons through Radio Télé Éducative broadcasts. Radio can reach homes without requiring every child to own a laptop or have dependable broadband.

What the reporting tells us

Yet the format also has limits. Students need a chance to ask questions, obtain materials and practice what they learn. Some families lack quiet rooms, reliable power or access to devices.

Our future remote sessions could complement, rather than replace, school. Short online seminars, downloadable exercises and accessible communication channels are possibilities to explore with Haitian educators and families.

Low-tech learning can be high-impact

Educational radio can reach beyond reliable internet service. But broadcast lessons are only one part of the picture: students still need exercises, feedback and a way to ask for help. A practical model pairs short lessons with printed materials and check-ins through whatever communication tools families can safely use.

What can help

Accessibility deserves the same attention as the lesson topic. Before inviting students to participate, organizers should check connectivity, whether materials work on a phone, language needs and the availability of an instructor for follow-up questions. Small adjustments can make an educational opportunity much easier to use.

The educational consequences are cumulative. Later chapters explore what catch-up lessons, accessible teaching materials and safe spaces can—and cannot—do for learners whose routines have been interrupted.