A local tech company has developed a portal to help students of public schools obtain access to educational resources online and assist them in studying during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has resulted in the closure of schools across the country.

Cilondis Plc developed the Study Africa portal for elementary, secondary and preparatory school students to get content updates from the Addis Abeba Education Bureau via textbook, radio, Plasma and television. The platform, which took two weeks to be finalised, was developed by Fasil Terefe and Meklit Shewalema, CEO of Cilondis Plc, both information communication technology experts.

Since most of the private schools have their own online learning management systems, Cilondis wanted to help public school students with the system, according to Fasil, one of the developers and a lecturer at Addis Abeba University for the past seven years.

Launched three weeks ago, the portal has so far uploaded 106 subjects for students from grades one through 12.

The portal enables users to share course materials, upload videos, audio and PDF documents, submit individual and group assignments and chat online. However, submitting individual assignments or making use of chat rooms will have to wait until teachers or experts are assigned by the Addis Abeba Education Bureau to engage with the students, according to Fasil.

The learning management systems of the private schools enable the students to interact with their teachers and classmates in two-way interactions.

“However, students of public schools are getting content through the television, radio and the mobile app Telegram, which is difficult, especially for lower classes,” he added.

The Addis Abeba Education Bureau is currently distributing educational content for students of public schools on Telegram. It is also using one of the local radio stations, FM94.7, to continue class for students between grades one through eight. Afri Health Television is also transmitting class for students from grade seven up to twelve for four subjects including chemistry, biology, math and physics.