Schools rediscover relevance of TV learning

Older tech can reach kids shut out of schools worldwide by Covid-19 pandemic or with limited access to online classes

Delia Huamani, 10, watching a TV broadcast of school lessons at her Peru home on Aug 13, with schools closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Poor regions where the Internet is scarce are turning to older technology to reach children. That strate
Delia Huamani, 10, watching a TV broadcast of school lessons at her Peru home on Aug 13, with schools closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Poor regions where the Internet is scarce are turning to older technology to reach children. That strategy could also help those who do not have broadband connections or computers. PHOTO: NYTIMES
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In a hillside shantytown of Lima, Peru, Delia Huamani's school day starts not with the bustle of classmates, but with the flicker of a television set. With physical schools closed indefinitely, she gets her lessons at home, from the country's brand-new library of slickly made educational broadcasts.

As a substitute, it's far from perfect. Delia, 10, says her parents cannot afford books - she misses reading about animals in the school library - and she has no one to check her work.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on August 23, 2020, with the headline Schools rediscover relevance of TV learning. Subscribe