Nokia, Globe, Ayala Foundation on Text2Teach

Attended a media lunch last Wednesday to witness the donation of Nokia Philippines to the Text2Teach Project which is spearheaded by the Ayala Foundation, SouthEast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Innotech (SEAMEO-Innotech) and Globe.

Nokia Philippines handed over a sum of Php27USD 0.46INR 39EUR 0.44CNY 3 Million to the project for the next 3 years. The Text2Teach Project has been running for 5 years now. The system enables teachers and students to access over 900 multimedia educational materials like video, pictures, text or audio files via SMS.

With mobile phones and monthly prepaid load allowance supplied by Nokia and Globe, public schools are able to access a library of Science, English and Math videos provided by Pearson and SEAMEO-Innotech. Each video is supported by targeted lesson plans that integrate supporting exercises and activities already linked to the curriculum. Over 200 schools have participated in the project which includes public elementary schools from Quezon City, Manila, Batangas, Mindoro, Antique, Cagayan de Oro City, Maguindanao, Cotabato, and Sharif Kabunsuan.

From left: SEAMEO-Innotech Center Director Dr. Linda Pefianco, Nokia Vice-President for Corporate Responsibility and Community Involvement Martin Sandelin, Ayala Foundation Co-Vice Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, and Globe President and CEO Gerardo Ablaza, Jr.

A budget of Php100,000USD 1,704INR 144,460EUR 1,623CNY 12,410 is needed to have one school participate in this project so that Php27M seed money may hook up 270 more elementary schools. Projects like these may seem so simple but one cannot deny the amount of money one needs to get this going especially when it comes free to all participating schools. So far, a commissioned study showed that the project has significantly affected the learning curve of the children.

This project could prove more useful when the target schools are the ones who really needs the supplemental materials. Yes, some kids don’t even have classrooms, chairs or books but you gotta start somewhere. And sometimes, hi-tech educational materials can actually make a difference.