200 primary school teachers to develop professional capacity through mobile

Knowledge gaps of teachers in rural areas, where literacy rates drop as low as 13%, are a major impediment to effective teaching and learning. Many rural areas lack access to learning resources and travel to training sites is often difficult and costly. To address this problem, Developments in Literacy (DIL) has recently launched an innovative initiative: Strengthening 200 Primary School Teachers’ Content Knowledge of Maths and English through Mobile Learning, in a ceremony attended by officials from USAID – Small Grant Ambassador Fund Program, NRSP and DIL. The project, which was made possible with support from the U.S.Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide primary and middle school teachers’ access to a digital library of lessons.Teachers will use Nokia mobile phones to access content via the Nokia Education Delivery (NED) client. According to DIL Founder and CEO, Fiza Shah this innovative approach,”will put the tools for learning in the hands of teachers and empowers them to take responsibility for their own development to improve the quality of student learning.” The project,which will be implemented through October, 2014 will impact about 15,000 primary and middle school students. Many more will continue to benefit from teachers’ in-depth knowledge long after the 22 month project comes to a close.