Standard Reporter
Browser provider Opera and international non-profit Worldreader are
expanding access to e-books for children and students via the Opera Mini
browser during the coronavirus crisis.
From last week, Worldreader has been offering a new selection of
e-books to all Opera Mini users, as
well as a new web app designed for
children.
Traditional schooling
The new app, BookSmart from Worldreader, offers a wide variety of
e-books dedicated to children, while the regular version will continue
providing e-books for young adult readers.
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The
Worldreader app features hundreds of books in different categories,
including health and careers. More than 100,000 people already use the
app each month via the Opera Mini browser.
“When considering how to mitigate learning loss in a pandemic, it should
be a priority to address supporting reading skills and engagement with
books, bridging the gap until schools are in session again,”
said Rebecca Chandler-Leege, Worldreader’s chief impact officer, in a
statement.
“Through mobile technology, we are able to support the distribution of
e-books and attend to the needs of millions thanks to the massive reach
of the Opera Mini browser in Africa.”
According to Unesco, as of March 24, 82 per cent of the world’s learners
had been shut out of traditional schooling and education programmes due
to social distancing.
School closures can result in significant learning losses for students.
In response to this global health crisis, Unesco is supporting the
implementation of large-scale distance learning programmes and
recommending open educational applications and platforms that schools
and teachers can use to reach learners remotely.
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Since
2015, Opera and Worldreader have promoted literacy worldwide, with
greater attention in Africa to enable millions of people to read free
books.
However, according to the head of marketing and distribution at Opera,
Jørgen Arnesen, there are several barriers in certain African
communities to access online educational materials, especially when
schools are shut down.
Online content
These include high data costs, low-tech phones and slow mobile networks.
“Throughout Africa, mobile data is very expensive and the Opera Mini
browser is popular in Africa due to its ability to reduce web page sizes
and save up to 90 per cent of their mobile data,” said Mr Arnesen.
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“We
believe that millions of children and students can benefit from our
partnership with Worldreader, and access educational online content
while the Covid-19 outbreak lasts.”
According to the 2019 edition of the Global Digital Report, there are
more than 437 million Internet users in Africa, presenting a great
opportunity to increase online reading.
“The low bandwidth required on the Opera Mini browser means that readers
use less data when accessing the Worldreader app – which is vital for
youth in remote communities with slow networks,” said Ms
Chandler-Leege.
For children and youth, reading can support literacy skills, the
acquisition of 21st-century skills, and boost work preparedness,
self-help and health education, while also offering the opportunity to
visit worlds beyond their own despite real-time travel being limited by
social distancing requirements.
Both apps can be accessed from the Opera Mini browser after tapping on
the Worldreader speed dial icon. Once accessed, users will be able to
access the new BookSmart app. Worldreader currently works in 138 schools
and 81 libraries, and has provided access to 1.9 million books.
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