Role of Community Radio in Enhancing the Basic Mathematical Skills of Citizens in India

Abstract

This study was carried out with the specific objectives of mapping the present level of mathematical skills of community members, and their radio listening behaviour preferences, with a view to making recommendations for the nature of radio programmes to be produced and broadcast among community members to enhance their numerical ability. To this end, the study employed quantitative research design, which involved the survey of a sample of 12,000 respondents taken from among the community members constituting the audience of the community radio stations in the country. The study employed multi-stage sampling to first identify 12 community radio stations, in the first instance, followed by the identification of one thousand households in each of these community radio stations and one respondent from each of the selected households, giving due consideration to the parity of gender. The data collected from each of these 12,000 respondents was processed with the help of descriptive statistical tools to arrive at inferences necessary to achieve the purposes of the study. The study revealed that while community members were comfortable in solving simple mathematical sums and calculating their wages, they experienced difficulties in the use of mathematical skills in the computation of interest, discount, percentage and conversion of scales of measurement. The study further revealed that community members listened to radio extensively and were eager to not just listen to radio programmes based on the imparting of mathematical skills but also willing to adopt a participatory approach in their production, based on their competencies.