Enhancing classroom teaching through Interactive Radio in South African primary schools: An evaluation of the OLSET programme

This article provides a summative evaluation of the development and implementation of the Open Learning Systems Education Trust's (OLSET's) “English in Action” programme from 1992 to the end of 2009. It describes the programme's development from a uni-modal distance education model focused on enhancing learner involvement and learner gains to a multi-modal model focused on enhancing teacher and learner involvement, teacher and learner gains, school, classroom and teacher support and in-service teacher training. It also describes the expansion of schools, teachers and learners involved in the programme over a 17 year period. Reasons for the wide-spread support of the programme by teachers, principals and educational officials in South Africa are identified, and constraints and limitations highlighted. Conclusions are then drawn on the value of the programme's model relative to the resurgence of international interest in the potential of using radio as a basis for teacher support in developing countries.