EDYOU FM: Revolutionizing education through radio in Guyana

In Guyana, radio has long served as a valuable educational tool, dating back to the Ministry of Education’s Broadcast to Schools program. This initiative, initially developed by the ministry, provided recordings of lessons that were broadcast over the National Communications Network (NCN) at designated times and reached students across the country. Recently, in an episode of Education Spotlight, EDYOU FM CEO Phillip Williams shared his insights on how radio’s role in education has evolved, now expanding its impact through EDYOU FM’s continuous, nationwide broadcasts.

“NCN would broadcast at specific times and, with the introduction of regional radio stations, could pass on this information to other regions,” Williams explained. This system marked the beginning of the ministry’s efforts to close the educational gap in Guyana, using radio as a platform for accessible learning.

With the arrival of EDYOU FM, what was once a humble radio studio was transformed into a 24/7, fully operational station. Broadcasting to all regions of Guyana, EDYOU FM has become a significant educational source, hailed as the largest radio station in Guyana and boasting the widest network in the Caribbean. According to Williams, this expansion is a testament to the vision of Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who championed the use of radio to reach the most remote communities in the interior.

Many listeners in these areas are hearing radio for the first time and rely heavily on EDYOU FM for information. “Whenever the CEO sends out a circular or a minister makes an announcement, we ensure that across all of our programs and segments that information is disseminated because they are very dependent on radio,” Williams stressed.

Looking to the future, EDYOU FM intends to innovate further, combining analog and digital formats to bring radio into the digital age. “We want to bring radio into the 21st century,” Williams said, emphasizing the station’s commitment to staying relevant across all digital platforms while ensuring everyone has access to education.

Apart from education, EDYOU FM has also become a springboard for young talents, offering training in photography, journalism, radio and television. In this way, the station is raising a generation of professionals prepared to cooperate with the broadcasting and digital industries.

EDYOU FM continues to shape Guyana’s educational landscape by creating a model for how radio can reach, inspire and educate citizens, regardless of geographical location.