And the “Hey, Why Not” Award Goes to… Nokia! Today the mobile giant launched a program called “M4Girls,” in conjunction with nonprofit organization Mindset Network, to bring mobile phones that help teach math to South Africa.

The program is geared toward high-school-age girls, who’ve historically performed poorly in math in South Africa. Nokia will be providing its 6300 model phones, preloaded with educational games and materials, that initially two schools in the North West Province will incorporate into course curricula.

Okay, so the idea runs in the same vein as providing third-world educational systems with cute Kelly-green computers—the effort is sincere—but maybe I’m missing how stuffing math books into a handset will improve the current educational system over standard textbooks and, you know, student-teacher interaction.

Also wondering if the kids will get their choice of the 6300’s three color options: teacher’s-pet silver, school-marm black, or teen-angst red.

[Nokia press release]