A local tech company has developed a web-based, homeschool tutoring application that will assist students in continuing their studies during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has led to the closure of schools across the country.

Sevents Plc developed the Sevents Home Tutor App for public and private school heads, teachers, students and parents. The application, which took four months to finalise, is mainly designed for students in grades five through 12.

Launched three weeks ago, the application is designed in English, and it can be used offline after downloading the course materials and exercises. Developed by three experts, the system enables users to share course materials, upload videos, audio and PDF documents, complete exercises and test questions, submit individual assignments and use chat rooms between students and teachers.

The company began the process of developing the application before the spread of the virus. Still, it was finalised quickly following the spread of COVID-19, according to Tsena Negash, founder and general manager at Sevents Plc, a two-year-old company.

“It’s social media that teachers, students, parents and school staff can interact with,” said Tsena.

Public schools can use the system for free, but private schools who want to be a part of the portal are required to pay a fee for two, three, six months or one year depending on their needs. The application can be used as an optional reference for regular times and during lockdowns of schools. It can also be used for private tutors.

“There wasn’t a school community focused on social media where the school community could interact with each other,” said Tsena. "We're in the process of adding five more languages: Tigrigna, Amharic, Afan Oromo, Somalia and Swahili."

Schools first create their account and subscribe to the portal, then the administrator of the portal assigns teachers and department heads to a specific grade and subject. Sevents charges private schools an average of 50 Br a student as a subscription fee. The system also enables teachers to build their contact information, register students, and upload lessons, exercises and worksheets in the sections provided by the portal.