A New Mobile App “Read to Kids” was launched in New Delhi recently. The mobile App is a part of “Read to Kids” educational programme run by global non- profit Worldreader. “Read to Kids” App will help parents, caregivers and teachers to read variety of story books on their mobile device and tell stories to children in age group of 0-6 years.
The App will also inculcate the habit of listening and improve oratory skills and motivate them to read books.Users can download this App from Google Play Store free of cost on smartphones even using 2G internet services. As part of pilot project, Society for All Round Development ( SARD) has identified 150 SDMC schools for the programme which will use this App to know the impact of digital technology in reviving reading habits among people.
In his inaugural address, by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor, Shyam Sunder Sharma. Sharma said that education is a top priority for SDMC. He said that principals and teachers have a critical role in imparting quality and moral values among the young children which will help them become better citizen.
“Principals and teachers should tell stories of nationalism and freedom struggle which will help in nation building”, Sharma said. Mayor also informed that he has directed school authorities to invite parents in their annual day celebrations for better understanding of their children’s overall development. He also mentioned that SDMC become the first municipality in the country, who introduce mobile apps technology to their teachers, and soon will invest more in collaboration with the agencies like NCERT, World reader, Pearson and SARD.
Leader of the house in South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Subhash Arya suggested that efforts should be made to improve learning abilities among primary school students by using digital technology like Read to Kids App.” I am astonshied to know that class five student cannot read second class text books”, he lamented. However he added that efforts should be made to inculcate reading habit among parents and children and this type of Apps will help parents for school readiness programme.
Education Committee Chairman, Yashpal Arya said that SDMC has recently introduced digital ID cards on pilot basis in MCPS school, New Krishna park, Vikaspuri, New Delhi,which helps teachers and parents to know the presence of children in schools during the school time.
Additional Director (Education) and Director (Public Relations) Mukesh Yadav said that low enrollment and qualityeducation are the two major challenges before them. Conceding that efforts are being made to improve infrastructure facilities in MCD run schools he informed that he has directed school principal and teachers to ensure cent percent enrollment of children in their schools. He praised the role of NGOs in improving the quality education and enrollment in schools. Yadav appealed schools to associate themselves with educational institutional like NCERT, SCERT, World reader, Pearson, SARD, Katha for developing digital content and trained teachers on its delivery methodology.
Speaking on the occasion, SARD CEO Sudhir Bhatnagar said, “In this age of technology, Read to Kids is an important programme to bring good quality and variety of story books close in the families of the children coming to our SDMC schools. It is an endeavour to equip and capacitate our teachers to use innovatively “Read to kids app” to make their classroom transactions more lively and there after empower the families to use more such stories with their children in a joyful way”. He also mentioned about the E-pathshala apps developed by Central Institute of Education Technology, NCERT and their repository, which is having collection of text books and supplementary material.
“Early literacy is widely considered the single most important determinant of a child’s later educational outcome. This is why Worldreader is thrilled to be launching the Read to Kids program in India in partnership with Pearson’s Project Literacy initiative,” said BhanuPotta, Board Member, Worldreader India. “With the ever increasing density of mobile phones in India, providing access to books via apps and encouraging parents & caregivers to read to their young children is bound to have lasting positive effects on children’s educational outcomes and their future.”Pearson is one of the funding agency of Read to Kids programme . Pearson’s Ashish Sabharwal said that Read to Kids programme is part of larger mission called “Project Literacy” which has a target to educate 750 million people across the globe. – press release