Moalims

Majority of Pakistanis do not have access to the internet, but approximately 70% are mobile phone users. This proves, that Pakistan is not an internet economy but a mobile phone economy. Mobile phones have come to play a key role in a person’s life and is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. In the recent past, mLearning has started to gain popularity. The idea is simple; improve education and bring about a positive change in the society using a simple mobile phone.
A couple of weeks ago, I read about the launch of ‘ILMI & Sitarey’, an SMS service launched by Department of Education and literacy, Government of Sindh in a leading newspaper. “This service is launched to bridge the gap between all the stakeholders of education in Sindh”, said the Secretory Education Sindh. The story drew my attention to the point where it mentioned that this service could be used to highlight the issues related to education in Sindh. Matters such as ghost teachers or ghost schools etc. can now be brought under notice via this service. Just like the other initiatives of the Government of Sindh, I was skeptical with regards to the credibility of this service – a feeling that most citizens of Sindh experience.
Being a stakeholder of the public education system, I thought to experience the service myself. I typed ILMI and sent it to 8398. I received a message, “Welcome to texting with ILMI! Talk to me & get help with school, share stories, get tips, participate in quizzes and be a Sitara.” I was amazed with the speed of the response and kept asking different academic and non-academic questions which were catered to on time.
I was pleasantly surprised to see an educational initiative at Government level, especially in Sindh. In the current state of education, which I would describe as close to pathetic, such a service brings a ray of light to the otherwise dark and dead-ended road of education. This service, if used appropriately by the people of Sindh, could bring transformational change in the Province. I humbly hope, that the people of Sindh would take advantage of this service and make the most of it.

Muhammad Murad
Jacobabad