TANYA McCLEAN
THERE is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a massive surge in online education, but according to two South African tech companies, the focus should also be on the quality of education and the science of learning.
Zibuza.net is an online community platform for teachers which was developed by Marvel Technologies founder, Malcolm Mooi who said that while their platform was for teachers to share, collaborate and improve professional development, his team had to rapidly expand it to learners and their parents during lockdown.
Mooi, a computer system engineer left the comfort of the corporate bubble in 2009 for a venture in the energy industry, but in 2013 he had spotted gaps in the education sector.
“I love solving societal problems and within the education sector, there did not seem to be a culture of sharing, it seemed to be fragmented or silo-driven.
“Kids also take to technology quickly, but adults are slower, so we started focusing on teacher development. I thought if teachers have a common platform on which to engage, that could unlock opportunities,” he said.
The Zibuza platform was developed where teachers could collaborate and share resources, with the company being recognised as one of the 15 winners (from 2000 participants) of the 2018 Misk Grand Challenge, awarded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with the Misk Foundation.
“And then came along the pandemic and everyone had to leverage technology for learning and teaching. We were already on the right track, but it has taken the pandemic for people to see the benefits. “They were forced to do it and found they could connect and that it was cool,” said Mooi, adding that they found not only teachers, but learners and parents also coming to the Zibuza platform.
“We had learners signing on to look for resources, such as past exam papers and so we expanded to include learners and parents. They could connect to each other and teachers, as well as all the resources we offer,” he said, adding that the company’s key goal was to make quality education accessible to learners across the country.
This has also included creating partnerships, such as with top level schools, which share their teaching skills and lessons.
Mooi said they are also focused on the science of learning and the balance between academic and non-academic, which includes social and emotional well-being of teachers and learners.
“Our three pillars are professional development, culture building where it’s all about development and a purpose bonded community – people are bonded by the concept of improving themselves. We drive that,” said Mooi.
Also driving the development of young people and increasing the pool of high-level tech talent in the country is Chief Executive Officer at ITTHYNK, Raymond Ledwaba, who also left the corporate world in 2017. ITTHYNK is an IT consulting and software development company with an academy.
As a chartered accountant, Ledwaba took over the business side of ITTHYNK, which was started by his brother Jeffery Ledwaba and Gideon Ogongo.
“They were the tech guys and kept asking me to join them. I took the leap and left the corporate world to go into small business which was a massive shock,” said Ledwaba, adding that the well-defined processes of the corporate life was replaced with the less structured hurly burly world of small business.
But he has not regretted the move and finds particular satisfaction in the ITTHYNK academy which holds bootcamps attended by young adults with potential in the IT field. The company is a Microsoft partner and the bootcamps end result is a Microsoft certified exam.
Ledwaba said there was a scarcity of well-trained IT people available in the SMME sector as they are lured to big companies.
“The bootcamp is followed by a six-month internship and after that we take some of the interns on as employees.
“We don’t train our interns to leave them sitting at home, We train with the intention to hire, so we have a high level of training. We need to grow that talent pool to grow the business,” he said.
With four partners (Microsoft, EOH, Liquid Telecom and ICAS), the bootcamp content is online but they also use available office space.
“EOH provided us with space which they are not currently utilising and which allows our students access to high speed internet, computers and a more social environment with their peers,” said Ledwaba.
EOH also assists with transport, while Liquid Telecom provides the learner management system and ICAS has psychologists on hand to help students with wellbeing. ITTHYNK runs analytics which pinpoint if anyone is struggling with course material in real time.
Ledwaba believes in ”blended learning”, using both online and sessions with facilitators and peers.
“It’s not just about sitting in front of a computer. Young adults also need a social working environment. Education requires different approaches, we should avoid copy and paste when it comes to online learning”, he said, highlighting that places such as China, Europe and the US have stable environments when it comes to internet and electricity infrastructure.
“You have to design for our environment and I see blended learning as the environment for our future,” he said.
Ledwaba highlighted that the bootcamps also include the students getting their driving licences.
“I love working with young people and seeing that transformation taking place. You see the growth, they are employed and can support a family.
“No amount of money can match the joy of seeing that kind of transformation taking place. It’s really fulfilling,” he said.
