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St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School in Banjul, the Gambia, will host the first public demonstration of the DRM Consortium’s distance learning project on April 8, using digital radio to deliver multilingual educational content without internet access.
Students at the school will receive audio and text-based lessons transmitted from the U.K. via DRM shortwave. These will be picked up by DRM-enabled receivers that generate a local Wi-Fi signal, allowing the students to access the material on tablets. The DRM Consortium supports the demonstration in collaboration with the school.
The test broadcasts are scheduled for 7–9 a.m. GMT (9–11 a.m. CET) on 15390 kHz and again from 12:30–2:30 p.m. GMT (2:30–4:30 p.m. CET) on 21740 kHz. Students will participate in the live lesson between 8 and 9 a.m. GMT (10–11 a.m. CET). The project team notes that the signal should reach much of West Africa and encourages listeners across the region to check reception of the content.
Text and audio
The broadcast will feature a digital textbook service (Journaline) delivered alongside the audio, providing access to graphics and written content in multiple languages. The lesson will first be transmitted in English, followed by AI-generated versions in French and German.
At 11 a.m. GMT (1 p.m. CET), students, invited guests and the press will observe a second session using the same material on demand, showcasing how DRM’s digital capabilities can support asynchronous learning in areas without IP connectivity.
According to the DRM Consortium, this is the first time such a distance learning model has been publicly demonstrated using DRM shortwave radio. It aims to illustrate the potential of DRM to support education initiatives across underserved communities.
You can find more information and follow the progress of the DRM distance learning initiative here.
