Eneza Education

Product Description

Eneza Education is a platform that uses low-cost mobile technology to give users educational lessons using SMS, Web, and Android platforms. This platform was created in partnership with Safaricom and Kenya Primary School Headteacher Association. Its core features include lesson assessment based on the national curriculum, an Ask-a-Teacher service, where students ask live questions to teachers, and receive a response within 30 minutes. Other additional features are SMS Wikipedia, Reader Boards, and other non-curriculum content such as health education.

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

This platform is implemented by Safaricom through the Shupavu 291 service, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Vodafone Foundation, and education-focused NGO's.

Manufacturing/Building Method

N/A

Intellectural Property Type

Open Source

User Provision Model

Users can obtain the service from subscribing to Shupavu291 by dialing *291# or sending the word "START" to 20851 at a cost of 0.1 USD (Ksh 10) per week deducted from the users' airtime.

Distributions to Date Status

As of September 2020 this service has reached over 6 million learners in Kenya, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. As of March 2016, 3,000 students in Kakuma and over 20,000 students and 378 teachers in Daadab refugee camps in Kenya have benefited.

Design Specifications

Eneza Education provides learning materials for students and tracking of students' performance using SMS technology. This platform uses activation codes to start taking a quiz in a particular topic that is being taught in class and students are directed to answer the questions and receive feedback based on their answers. Teachers are able to track the performance through the data collected that is made accessible to teachers and parents. This platform has partnered with Safaricom to roll out a revision tool, Shupavu 291, which is currently available in 400 schools across Kenya and can be accessed from any mobile by dialing *291# or sending the word "START" to 20851 at a cost of 0.1 USD (Ksh 10) per week deducted from the users' airtime. The service also includes an "Ask a teacher" feature where students ask questions remotely to a live teacher.

Technical Support

This platform offers a single course for teachers with instructions on how to use the platform and guidance on ways to interpret student outcomes.

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

This service targets primary and secondary schools in remote areas with no access to educational resources. It is expected to enable users: study any topic, access curated and localized content, and have a teacher available to ask questions.

Vetted Performance Status

This platform did an internal 3-month long impact study among pilot schools, in 2013, which resulted in an improvement of at least 15% compared to the previous year and found that the platform fostered knowledge retention and collaborative learning among students. After implementing the platform in 3 countries the organization found that the students improve their academic performance by 22% after using the platform for 3 months.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

A mobile phone with airtime of 0.1 USD (Ksh. 10) per week to connect to the service, WiFi, or internet connection to connect to the mobile application and/or website.

Academic Research and References

Oluwatobi S. and Olurinola I., 2015, Mobile Learning in Africa: Strategy for Educating the Poor.

Dumisani C., 2018, Leaving No-One Behind: Improving Climate Change and Entrepreneurship Education in Sub-Saharan Africa Through E-Learning and Innovative Governance Systems, pp 33-47.

Reid D. and Pruijsen C., 2015, Increasing Learning Outcomes in Developing Countries Engaging Students Out of the Classroom Using SMS and Voice Mobile Technology, pp 421-436.

Scharff C., Rene V., Schoepp J. G., Shah N. K. and Greenberg A., 2017, Exploring Mobile Device Literacy in Senegal, 2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference, IEEE.

Compliance with regulations

This platform has been approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and has advisors from the Ministry of Education, and it has also partnered with Kenya Primary School Headteacher Association to develop it.

Other Information

Eneza Education and Safaricom were awarded the Education Award at GSMA 2018 Global Mobile Awards. #Shupavu291 Success Story: Silas Okinyi from Homa Bay