EVALUATION OF THE RADIOPHONIC SCHOOLS OF THE PRACS PROJECT

PRACS IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE RURAL HEALTH EXTENSION SERVICES, PARAMEDICAL AND HLTH EDUCATOR TRAINING, AND PUBLIC HLTH EDUC. THE RADIOPHONIC SCHOOLS COMPONENT UTILIZES RADIO INSTRUCTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH CLASSROOM DISCUSSION TO INFORM COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF BENEFICIAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE PRACTICES WHILE PROVIDING EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING TO HEALTH EDUCATORS IN RADIOPHONIC TEACHING METHODS. THIS EVAL WAS CONDUCTED BY INTERVIEWING KEY SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND STUDYING PROJ REPORTS AND THE MATERIAL DEVELOPED (TAPES, RADIO SCRIPTS, FLIP CHARTS). RADIO SCRIPTS AND VISUAL MATERIALS WERE DEVELOPED BY THE STUDENT HEALTH EDUCATORS AND TRIED OUT ON EACH OTHER. THE LACK OF PRE-TESTING OF THESE MATERIALS ON A SAMPLE TARGET AUDIENCE AND FOLLOW-UP REVISION RESULTED IN SEVERAL OF THE COMPLETED MATLS BEING EXCESSIVELY LONG, SOMETIMES INCOMPREHENSIBLE, AND OVERLY COMPLEX FOR THE INTENDED AUDIENCE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT, IN THE FUTURE, PRE-TESTING BE UNDERTAKEN. THE MATLS THUS FAR DEVELOPED COULD BE IMPROVED OR REGARDED SIMPLY AS PRACTICE WORK FOR FUTURE ACTIVITIES. ALSO, AN A/V AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT COULD BE CONTRACTED TO CONDUCT A SHORT WORKSHOP FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS IN EDUCATIONAL MATLS PRODUCTION. AN EVALUATION OF THE RADIOPHONIC SCHOOLS AS A TRAINING TOOL FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS HAS NOT BEEN UNDERTAKEN. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TESTS BE CONDUCTED OF STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE USE OF SUCH NON-TRADITIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION METHODS BEFORE AND AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RADIOPHONIC SCHOOLS.