HONDURAS-EDUCATION: Radio Brings ‘Teacher in the House’

By Thelma Mejía Reprint | | Print |

Thelma Mejia

TEGUCIGALPA, Mar 17 1997 (IPS) - Over the next eight years, roughly 53,000 Hondurans, mainly peasant farmers, will be able to finish primary school thanks to an innovative radio programme called ‘Teacher in the House’.

Created in 1989 by a group of Catholic nuns, the programme has become one of the most effective tools in fighting the illiteracy that burdens an estimated 46 percent of this Central American nation’s 5.8 million inhabitants.

The key ingredients of ‘Teacher in the House’ are solidarity and volunteer work, said Martha Soto, the nun who heads the Honduran Institute of Education by Radio, which implements the programme.

‘Teacher in the House’, based on an idea that first arose in Spain’s Canary Islands in 1965, also functions in neighbouring Guatemala and Costa Rica. It has been nominated for Spain’s Miguel Angel Asturias prize, to be rewarded in April.

The Ministry of Education aims to cut adult illiteracy 24 percent by the year 2000, through the radio programme and other efforts.

The programme is aired by the country’s two leading radio stations and one belonging to the Catholic Church. Teachers meet with participating teenagers and adults over the weekend in community centres, church locales and schools to reinforce the teachings imparted by the radio programme.

‘Teacher in the House’ complies with Ministry of Education requisites.

Carmen Pereira, a teacher who volunteers with the programme, said small farmers and homemakers are motivated by the programme to work hard and help others learn. “Some farmers, once they finish their primary education, sign up as volunteers to teach their friends. It is an admirable effort in solidarity.”

The project has filled a gap in education in Honduras, said Soto. “The economic crisis has kept many people from acquiring education. We offer them an inexpensive alternative, and we adjust ourselves to their schedules.” Enrollment in the programme costs less than a dollar, and books and other materials run about five dollars a year, much lower than the market price.

According to official figures, primary school costs 72 dollars a year per student. “We see that the people want to study, because this year 18,000 people have registered,” said Soto. “We believe it would be advisable to lower the cost of education so everyone could have access to basic education.”