Bridging Practice and Theory in Teacher Training Using a Mobile App for Teachers in Low-Cost Private Schools in India and Nigeria

In South-East Asia and across many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, high proportions of children attend low-cost private schools. The parents pay a small fee and the children generally get a slightly better education than provided by the local government schools. But the overall quality is still poor with low levels of learning and poor teaching methods and practices, largely because many of the teachers in these schools have little or no teacher training and have picked up what they can on the job. University teacher training is out of reach financially and academically for the majority of teachers who are often just secondary school leavers. This chapter describes a viable and accessible on-the-job alternative, using the latest technology to bring best practice to directly to these teachers' phones. Using local mentor support and a clear emphasis on the application of the lessons to the trainees' classrooms, the training is bringing about change for their classes and pupils.

DOI: 10.4324/9781003320234-12 openalex: W4387879928 id: openalex:W4387879928 keywords: , , , ,