POWER99 Foundation pioneered the “Broad Class – Listen to Learn” ECD program to improve the quality and access to education in marginalized areas with low Net Enrolment and high dropout rates using the Interactive Radio Broadcast methodology. With a vision of a prosperous Pakistan through equal access to quality education. 

BroadClass (IRI) is an instructional methodology that combines an audio component, delivered by an “audio teacher” by radio, audio cassette, or MP3 player, with learning activities carried out by students, and facilitated by the classroom teacher. Its focus is on improving educational quality as opposed to access, which requires active learning and purposeful teaching practices. Educational content is organized and distributed across lessons so that learning is built upon prior knowledge through “scaffolding”. Learning activities are tied to measurable learning objectives. The radio “characters” model the activities and problems first before students carry them out, linked through storylines, music, and other attributes.  Successful programs require careful development, including audience research, focus groups, and field-level formative evaluation to make sure audio lessons and learning activities are engaging, contextually relevant, and effective in promoting learning. This process, which goes through several iterations, is illustrated in the figure below.

The program BroadClass is documented as Resource Pack by UNESCO (ARNEC). Demonstrating how a radio-delivered pedagogical approach can improve literacy, numeracy, and healthy habits among young children in Pakistan.