eBusiness Weekly
Kudakwashe Mhundwa
Two Zimbabwean entrepreneurs have launched a new mobile application aimed at assisting high school students with their work.
The mobile platform called Chatlearn, is linked to Whatsapp and learners can access information using WhatsApp bundles.
Chatlearn carries content relevant for O-Level students with prospects of expansion to other spectres.
Brains behind the application, which they refer to as a product of “special software programming,” Winston Chikazhe and Aaron Chikukuza say their innovation is a cost-effective solution for candidates to access content.
“We started cross-pollinating ideas for the establishment of Chatlearn since 2015, having discovered an opportunity in the e-learning fraternity, through Chatlearn they get access to educational information anytime and from anywhere, as long as they have WhatsApp bundles so in essence no extra data costs is incurred with Chatlearn,” Chikukuza said.
To date, Chatlearn has captured about 1 300 students across Zimbabwe.
“We already got 1 300 subscribers who are using Chatlearn across the country and the feedback is very encouraging. We started with O-Level Mathematics where every subscriber learns while chatting through the programme. More subjects are in the offing so that we proffer a balanced e-learning masterpiece,” said Chikukuza .
He added: “Zimbabwe boasts of 5 million WhatsApp users and students make up part of that number, therefore our aim is to effectively tap into that population for the growth of our software.”
The application comes at a time growth of Zimbabwe’s economy is hinged on technology.
“We have always been fond of leveraging and capitalising on the advancement and massive penetration of technology in our great country of Zimbabwe through offering innovative, convenient and affordable e-learning solutions and Chatlearn is the first baby,” Chikukuza said.
In the same way that physical question and answer booklets (greenbooks) work, the application has a function that enables self-evaluation.
“Through Chatlearn the user can choose options for different topics and tests with answers being provided. That enables Chatlearn to have a great interaction with subscribers.
Zimbabwe boasts of more than five million WhatsApp users daily mainly because of it being affordable and convenient way of communication and students are part of that number,” he said.
Although they are setting their sights on global reach, their philosophy is premised on making an impact in the locality first.
Globally, technology companies have been coming up with digital solutions for learners like Google Scholar and turn it in.
