STAFF REPORT LHR: Mobilink has partnered with UNESCO to launch the third phase of the Mobile Based Literacy programme – a broad based initiative in progress since the year 2009. The programme is a unique initiative that utilizes mobile technology to improve literacy for female students, aged 15 to 25 years, in rural and deprived areas.
The Mobile Based Literacy programme is an evolution of the previous SMS for Literacy programme, with the third phase of the project designed to use the mobile phone both for learning and communication between the teachers and students, as well as teachers and supervisors.
Under this plan, 2500 students will be given basic literacy skills by communicating with teachers through SMS-based interactive lessons. As a value addition the third phase will also enable 100 participating teachers to coordinate with supervisors and report on student progress via data enabled SIMs provided by Mobilink.
Dr. Kozue Kay Nagata, Director and Country Representative UNESCO said that through this project UNESCO has made 1500 adult female not just literate but also made them connected to the world.
“ICT provides some of the most powerful methods to help us in our efforts to eradicate illiteracy in Pakistan. This learning programme uses the cell-phone as a learning tool and has been designed to take advantage of Mobilinks extensive penetration amongst the population,” said Jahanzeb Taj, Vice-President Marketing, Mobilink, in his remarks.