SMS story trial project a success

 TEACHERS and students of elementary schools in two provinces are happy with the positive impact of the SMS Story trial project implemented last year.

The project was implemented by Voluntary Services Overseas in some rural schools in Madang and Chimbu funded through a research grant from the AusAID economic and public sector programme.

Chimbu provincial education advisor, Walkima Essy said the SMS containing stories and lesson plans sent via Digicel mobile phones had greatly helped teachers and  students.

Essy said the trial project implemented had improved the ability of the students to read.

“Students can read aloud with confidence and tell stories from the pictures,” he said.

Essy said it improved the students’ interest in their studies which resulted in good attendance in class.

In addition, the project had a positive effect on the professional development of teachers.

“The teachers have learnt how to do better lesson plans than before,” Essy said.

Essy said the project had taught teachers how to come up with their own stories.

He said teachers still used the SMS stories and the approach was used in teaching other subjects.

Madang education director, Moses Sariki said they were happy with the project and wanted it to be implemented in all schools.

Sariki said with the outcomes based education system phasing out, the project had to be taken into account by the Department of Education during the development of elementary curriculum.