Telephone Helpline in Afghanistan 🇦🇫
📅 May 2020 – Ongoing
Key Sandbox Question: We know effective teacher presence in the classroom improves learning outcomes. How might this be replicated when students are learning at home?
| Subject: #literacy #numeracy | Age: #secondary | Place: #Afghanistan #rural |
| People: #student_male #student_female #teacher #caregiver | Product: #radio #TV #feature_phone | Business Model: #donor #replication #government |
The Problem
The longer children stay out of school with no access to learning, the less likely they are to return, and the more likely they are to be subject to additional harm and remain in poverty. In Afghanistan, this is particularly true for adolescent girls, who face the risk of early marriage and unwanted pregnancy.
In rural communities, NGOs and governments have been able to provide some distance learning to children via TV, radio, or learning packets. These materials are not able, however, to differentiate between different learning styles or abilities, or provide feedback or motivation. This Sandbox is exploring whether a ‘helpline’ – based on a call centre model – can connect students to teachers.
What we’re doing
- Testing the concept through a ‘simulation’ by providing smartphones to 50 BRAC teachers to ring their students, and monitoring behaviour and uptake
- Using evidence from the ‘simulation’ to design a V1.0 ‘call centre’ model, allowing teachers and children to call each other (free of charge) and directing their calls appropriately
- Building a coalition of support and onward sustainability for the model as we validate it, involving other funders and the Afghanistan Ministry of Education
Get involved
If you are interested in contributing or finding out more about this Sandbox, get in touch with asad@edtechhub.org
Evidence through implementation
📝 Sprint One: Laying the Foundations and engaging government
📝 Sprint Two: The ‘helpline ‘simulation’
📝 Sprint Three (coming soon)
Sandbox Partners
