The ideal solution for the tribal areas would be to have books for students in a mobile format.
KARACHI: This is apropos a story regarding the unavailability of books for Federally Administered Tribal Areas, (Fata) students in the current academic year. Countries in Africa have already solved the problem of lack of student resources with the help of mobile phone and telecommunication companies.
The ideal solution for the tribal areas would be to have books for students in a mobile format. However, we may start slow and steady with a minimum budget. At the onset, these companies, along with the government, should begin the distribution of cheap/repaired mobile sets and SIMs to these students. Once all students have SIMs, the teachers can use the bulk SMS text portal to SMS notes related to the syllabus and homework with convenience via their computers. This will be a good temporary solution for the lack of education resources.
Arsalan Akhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2014.
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