Text me UR … equations? SAfrican social networking site offers math tutoring via cellphone

SAfrican students study math via cellphone

JOHANNESBURG — A South African think tank is offering tutoring on a popular mobile phone platform after a nationwide teachers’ strike left final year students unprepared for end-of-term exams.

With final exams in a month, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is concentrating on math and sending its lessons on MXit, which provides instant messaging service for mobile phones. Students can interface on their phones or download information from the website.

Laurie Butgereit, who is overseeing the tutoring effort, says MXit is cheap and efficient — more than 1,000 messages can be sent for one rand, about 15 U.S. cents.

Butgereit says it’s “a perfect opportunity for South Africa to roll up its sleeves and help” final year students.