In South Africa, perhaps not unlike in the rest of the world, most parents find themselves unable to afford school fees for their children. Yet a surprising observation that can readily be made is that most students do have access to a cellular phone and can make proficient use of the device. The explanation for this oddity isn’t obvious, but the potential use of the cellular phone already in the pocket of many school - going children is an enticing prospect for those looking to improve the quality of education. This is especially true in a country where the school-leaving qualification program has a pass rate of only 60 percent-this with the definition of a pass as low as 30 percent for some subjects. The work reported in this article took place with students who attend schools where class sizes are 40 to 60 and whose parents are not able to cover the full cost of school fees and textbooks.