Intel making textbooks more accessible to SA students with new app

Education is all the rage in Africa right now, so it makes sense that a big tech company like Intel would get into the space. Today the company announced has Intel Explore and Learn Marketplace, a new education solution that provides access to a vast repository of free and low-cost digital text books and interactive learning resources.

This move is quite important for South Africa, as the country has been plagued with lack of access to text books for students. Intel’s solution is designed for every kind of student, no matter what their age or background. It provides interactive learning material (books, exam papers, instruction videos and podcasts) for students from GR0 to adult- students completing their MBAs.

Cigdem Ertem, Intel’s Turkey Middle East and Africa Business Development Regional Manager believes this resource app will provide a useful resource hub for students to find relevant content.

Intel reckons that app will also be benefit to teachers and other stakeholders in the education fraternity.

The app is available for download on Android and Windows Devices (sorry no iDevices). Once the app is downloaded, students can find and acquire free and paid for textbooks, instructional videos and exam preparation materials to help them succeed in their studies.

What’s really cool is that, once downloaded, the files are easily accessible offline at any time, on the device the user has downloaded it to.

The content provided matches the South African education curriculum, ensuring that the material is relevant and accurate while providing a user-friendly, interactive and engaging learning experience to students and teachers. The solution is the result of the collaboration between Intel and Rancard, the Ghana-based organisation that provides cloud-based software for mobile content discovery and delivery.

The introduction of the Intel Explore and Learn Marketplace solution represents another step in Intel’s foray into digital education, with Ertem saying the company is continually looking for ways to partner and collaborate with government, educational institutes and content creators.

“As a company that’s been active in the education space for the last 40 years globally, we’ve seen how technology can drive clearly improved learning results and assist teachers by providing access to information and quality engaging content,” said Ertem.

“We’re well aware of the challenges our education system faces. Through this solution, we’re aiming to empower the youth, learners and students of South Africa to improve their knowledge and build skills, and in the process, change their lives.”

The programme will roll out to the rest of Africa later this year.