Globe and partners introduce Text2Teach in Bicol

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom, together with its partners Ayala Foundation, Nokia, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), and the Department of Education, has introduced the Text2Teach program in the Bicol Region.

Text2Teach is a program that brings educational content to public elementary schools all over the archipelago through videos downloaded via Short Messaging System (SMS). Teachers can order 387 educational videos in Science, Math, English and Values Education. Since its launch in 2005, the Text2Teach program has proven effective in improving the performance of students, especially in Math and Science.

An initial 24 public elementary schools in Ligao City, Albay will be the first batch of beneficiaries of the Text2Teach program. These are: Amtic Elementary School, Barayong Elementary School, Basag Elementary School, Baligang Elementary School, Herrera Elementary School, Paulog Elementary School, Abella Elementary School, Francia Elementary School, Ligao East Central School, Maonon Elementary School, Tupas Elementary School, Oma-Oma Elementary School, Bacong Elementary School, Paulba Elementary School, Cabarian Elementary School, Tiongson Elementary School, Busac Elementary School, Tandarura Elementary School, Tula-Tula (G) Elementary School, Tastas Elementary School, Allang Elementary School, Cavasi Elementary School, Tula-Tula (P) Elementary School, and Culiat Elementary School.

Each school will receive a Text2Teach package containing a Nokia N86 8MP mobile phone, a Globe prepaid SIM card, and a 29-inch colored television.

Using the Globe 3G network technology, almost 400 interactive, multimedia educational videos in Science, Math, and English are downloaded into the Nokia N86 equipped with the Nokia Education Delivery (NED) software. The downloaded audio and video materials are integrated into the lesson specifically designed to the Basic Education Curriculum and designed for Grades 5 and 6 students. By linking the phone to the TV set, the video can be viewed by the whole class. Globe will also provide P150 monthly load allowance for one year to be used for helpdesk concerns and an additional P1,000 load if there are new or updated materials to be downloaded. Globe is the sole telecommunications service provider for the Text2Teach program.

The launch and turnover ceremony was attended by Ligao City Mayor Linda Gonzalez, representatives from the Text2Teach alliance and officials of Globe Telecom led by Yoly Crisanto, corporate communications head. The highlight of the event was a first time demonstration of an actual downloading of a Text2Teach video to the mobile phone.

To date, more than a million students from 358 public elementary schools nationwide using the Text2Teach program. Text2Teach has won several awards and garnered accolades from various institutions worldwide.