Major mobile phone manufacturer Nokia and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently jointly launched the Nokia Mobile Mathematics (MoMaths) service for South African learners and teachers. The service is aimed at Grades 10, 11 and 12, the last three grades in South African high schools.

“From today, this is generally available,” stated Nokia VP South and East Africa Gerard Brandjes. “Previously, in the pilot phase, it was available in particular schools in particular provinces. We have proved that this adds value to learners. We need to make sure we get the true benefit to all learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12.”

The new service is accessible through any cellphone, tablet, laptop or desktop without first having to download an app. Only a short sign-up process is required. Local mobile phone networks Cell C and MTN have zero-rated access to MoMaths, which means that learners do not have to pay anything to use it. Nokia is in talks with other networks to do the same.

While the original pilot was Mxit-based, the service is now browser-based. It gives access to theories, hints, examples of solved problems and more than 10 000 exercises of different levels of complexity. MoMaths includes calculus, trigonometry, finance and statistics. It allows pupils to cooperate with one another, compare their results (MoMaths awards points for successfully completed exercises) and get help to make progress. Teachers are able to get a better understanding of learners’ abilities and improvements.

The project was started in 2009, following a request, the previous year, by the then Deputy President of South Africa (Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka), who asked Nokia if it was possible to use mobile telephony technology to benefit education in the country. The pilot programme initially involved 260 Grade 10 learners in three provinces – Gauteng, the North West and the Western Cape. The pilot was subsequently expanded to embrace 150 schools with 14 000 leaners as active users of the service. So far, they have completed more than four-million exercises. Among the active users of MoMaths, mathematics competence increased by 14%, compared with nonusers. Further, 69% of teachers actively used the service. Interestingly, 82% of the use of MoMaths takes place outside school hours.

“This is one of many different initiatives we have across South Africa, in particular, and Africa, in general,” explained Brandjes. “This is the culmination of one of our cooperative programmes with the DST. Typically, we focus on education, where we feel that mobile [telephony technology] can add value and is scaleable.”

“Our department has a portfolio on e-education projects that supports solutions to improve the delivery of education in schools through information and communication technology (ICT),” highlighted DST director: ICT and services industry Jeanette Morwane. “These solutions also highlight the role of the department in supporting other government departments to deliver services through science and technology.”

“This partnership will grow much further,” she affirmed. “We are happy working with Nokia to show how ICT can improve education in South Africa.” She noted that the DST currently had three partnerships with multinational corporations in the ICT sector, of which Nokia was one. “We promote the partnerships with multinational corporations.” A major reason for this was to highlight local capabilities and encourage these companies to do research in South Africa. The DST has developed a plan for research, development and innovation in the local ICT sector. One of its objectives is to increase local public and private investment in ICT.