Education cannot be Delayed: Utilization of Mobile Phones in Education in Emergencies

Servious Mbiza

Education in Emergencies, Mobile Education, Mobile Use by Children, Learning During Disasters, Utilization of Mobiles

When disaster strikes, education is, in most cases, not included as part of the first response. Education must wait until life comes to normal. This, however, is a very costly miscalculation because during emergencies the affected persons, young or old, have a lot of questions which need to be answered immediately. The affected persons must quickly learn to reconcile their actions with the prevailing situation on the ground. This often requires finding new meanings to life.  After encountering such traumatic events people can easily be made to believe those who are first to come with explanations. It is during this time that children are brain washed or get indoctrinated by those who reach them first. Since mobile phones are ubiquitous and are becoming more accessible by each coming day it is important to assess if they can be a medium for teaching and learning during emergencies.  This study assesses the possibility of making education be part of the first response when disaster strikes. A study on accessibility of mobile phones to children and what they can do with them was done. A questionnaire was given to parents to indicate how their children were using mobile phones. The data provided was used to assess the proficiency of mobile use by children. The study established that children were able to navigate through mobile gadgets to pick applications of their choice. The study concluded that mobile phones were suitable tools to use as a medium of instruction during emergencies, especially in poor and remote communities.

https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.8.2.15