BBC Janala receives Microsoft Education Award

BBC Janala, which is teaching millions of people to learn English in Bangladesh through mobile phones, has been awarded a prestigious Microsoft Education Award at this year's international Tech Awards in Silicon Valley, California.
The pioneering service impressed judges with its use of mobile technology to reach some of the poorest people in the country and offer a simple and affordable way to learn.
Launched 12 months ago by the BBC World Service Trust, BBC Janala provides daily three- minute audio lesson to the 84% of the country who want to improve their English language skills in order to get a better job and access the global economy.
Over 50 million mobile phones are in use in Bangladesh. At a cost of just 50 paisa per minute, BBC Janala targets those living on less than £2 a day and has proved its popularity with over three and half million calls.
"For years people have been trying to work out how to bridge the digital divide and use PCs to teach people in the developing world. This was a challenge with a lack of available computers and connectivity to data networks.
But while we were trying to duplicate our solution the world got connected via mobile phones. BBC Janala's genius is it uses the existing cellular network to provide people with educational content rather than waiting for what we have in the developed world", said Stuart Gannes, from the Tech Awards jury and former director of Stanford University's Digital Vision Program.
The Janala also includes television drama and game show and lessons in leading national daily.