Mobile operator Vodacom has tapped education company, Pearson South Africa (PSA), as provider of digital learning content for school text books, supplementary material and adult education.
This partnership sees Vodacom boost its Mobile Education Programme by adding PSA's learning material as well as adult education content.
The Mobile Education Programme is Vodacom's teacher development initiative that aims to ensure educators are provided with the necessary ICT infrastructure and tools.
"The content will be used by teachers to prepare their lesson plans. The content will be provided in both print and e-book format," says PSA.
Mthobeli Tengimfene, executive head of corporate social investment projects at the Vodacom Foundation, says: "Our aim is to use our technology to help make a difference in the communities where our customers live. Through this initiative, Vodacom seeks to make learning and teaching accessible through the use of technology."
Vodacom set up the Mobile Education Programme to improve the quality of instruction in all subjects at every level, with particular emphasis on mathematics, mathematical literacy and physical science in grades 10 to 12.
The programme is in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, Microsoft, Mindset Learn and Cisco. It includes nine fully-equipped ICT resource centres, 52 new ICT resource teacher training centres, 893 schools, and online teacher development portal, the digital classroom.
Wider reach
According to PSA, it became Vodacom's educational content provider because of the operator's capacity to reach a wide network of teachers, parents, schools and educators in South Africa.
The partnership, a three-pronged approach that includes content, teacher training and school turnaround, will see PSA provide resources for all the ICT resource centres, digital products based on the gaps identified in the teacher centres, and print books for learners ranging from grades four to nine.
"Content will be provided in print and e-book format to the 60-plus teacher centres.
"Pearson will provide support to some of the schools in the areas close to centres through our education trust. Our support to the schools will entail weekly visits, training and support to the principals and school management teams," PSA states.
The education company notes it is looking to partner with any other telecoms company or corporate that wishes to improve the lives of learners through education.
Teacher training
Deputy minister in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Hlengiwe Mkhize, previously told ITWeb inasmuch as technology is made available in the classroom, it is useless if teachers are not competent and confident in using it.
According to Mkhize, South African teachers need further training and development to be competent users of technology devices.
"A learner's ability to access digital content depends on the teacher being comfortable with using technology devices in the classroom," she said.
As part of the partnership, the PSA Teacher Academy will provide teacher training, which will entail subject-specific training as well as ICT in education training.
"The main aim of the training is to ensure teachers not only improve their understanding and application of the curriculum content, but also prepare them for advances in technology," says PSA.
Pearson estimates it will train 12 000 to 16 000 teachers.
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