ExamNet

In Tanzania and other parts of Africa, there is a lack of widespread learning resources. This also leads to the teacher-to-student ratio being very high compared to other parts of the world.

The convenient and effective way of tackling the problem was developing a mobile/web app that would have learning resources that students can use to learn and gain knowledge anywhere, anytime. Given this thesis, we believe that ExamNet is the right solution for this problem.

If ExamNet was to be scaled globally, students will gain all the learning content they need to thrive and achieve amazing academic grades.

In Tanzania and most of the under-developed countries, due to many factors including financial resources, there is a lack of enough teachers in schools. This leads to the student-to-teacher ratio being very high thus most of the students not understanding well in class hence leading to poor academic grades. ExamNet directly addresses this problem as it offers various learning content and tests that students can use to learn effectively without being taught by a physical teacher.

Also, considering that most of the countries' citizens work and study from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ExamNet comes as a very beneficial platform to students because they will now have a way to access learning content and test themselves anytime while they are at home.

ExamNet is a Mobile and Web App that helps elementary school students improve their educational knowledge and problem-solving skills by attempting different tests and getting their scores and corrections instantly.

These tests are prepared by a group of 10 teachers whereby 5 of them create the questions then send them to the other 5 for approval and standard checking before sending them to the students' app.

We are also introducing Video Lectures for corrections and syllabus coverage, Digital Coursebooks, the ability to create learning remainders through the app for personal goals, and expanding to high schools and other countries in Africa and potentially other countries globally.

ExamNet is recognized and supported by The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Tanzania, The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA), The Commission of Science and Technology (COSTECH), Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), and Tanzania Education Authority (TEA).

ExamNet is built with native programming languages for Android, iOS, and Web, but is currently being re-developed with Flutter for faster and cross-platform production. It is available on Play Store, App Store (currently down but will be back soon on iOS) and Web through https://examnet.net/.

Our target population is 8.6 million students (6.2 million from Primary schools (standard IV to VII) and 2.4 million students from Secondary Schools (form I to VI) totaling 2.4 million). Source: Educational statistics 2020 - President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government.

The students lack enough learning materials and enough teachers.

We are doing surveys by engaging students and teachers through selected schools to understand their needs. We are improving the solution regularly as we continue to update/upgrade the system.

The solution addresses their needs by providing learning materials including tests, video lectures, digital books etc.   

The challenge is looking for 'Increasing the engagement of learners in remote, hybrid, and physical environments, including strategies and tools for parental support, peer interaction, and guided independent work'.

At ExamNet we are trying to find more ways to provide learning content to students that live in any condition. At the moment we provide tests but we are working on adding video lectures and digital books that would increase the value of the product and address the challenge better. Also, we're working on in-app challenges between students where they can challenge themselves in doing tests.

We have selected Growth simply because our App has been available on Google Play Store and App Store since the 01st of May 2020 and we have over 10,000 downloads, over 8,900 users, and over 12,600 done tests.

ExamNet is innovative due to the fact that it combines everything in one from tests, learning content that is prepared by teachers that were recommended by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania, and video lectures.

ExamNet is already making a very big impact in Tanzania. A small project that we conducted in a Makumbusho Primary School in Dar es salaam region, proved that ExamNet is needed by the community and also plays a big role in improving a student's academic performance. We approached the school and pitched to them what ExamNet can do and why it is important to their students and luckily they took it positively and the teachers decided to effectively use it to prepare their students for the final exams. When the Nation Exams results were released, the school's performance increased by approx. 24% compared to the previous year. The teachers believe that all that was due to the effective use of ExamNet.

As of now, the platform has over 10,000 downloads, over 8,900 users, and over 12,600 done tests.

We predict to have 15,000 users by year 1 and 45,000 users by year 5.

1. Google Analytics. This gives us a clear picture of how many active users we have, where they're from, and the technologies they're using.

2. We normally visit various schools that use ExamNet and ask their students how they feel about the platform, if it's actually helping them, and if they have anything that they would like to be improved or added in the app.

One (1) full-time worker and thirteen (13) part-time workers.

ExamNet's Team:

1. Moses Mbaga (Developer & Founder): A very interesting fact about this solution is that it has been innovated and developed by a 15 years boy who is very passionate about coding. Moses has is a self-taught Software Developer who started coding when he was 11 years old and has mastered numerous programming languages like Java, Swift, Dart, PHP, HTML, CSS, etc. Due to his very young age in coding, Moses has attracted a lot of attention in Tanzania and has been featured in many news locally and in other parts of Africa.

Events Attended:

1. HDIF Innovation Week 2020
2. Sahara Sparks 2020 (made a presentation on ExamNet)
3. dLab Accelerator Programme (April 2021); funded by MCC and PEPFAR
4. Wazo Challenge Tanzania (May 2021)

Videos:

1. dLab/Grindstone Demo Day
2. CGTN Interview

2. Rodgers Mbaga (Business Development Manager): Has over 25 years of experience and expertise in Project Management, Marketing, Public Affairs, Government Relations & Products Innovation.

3. Mark Massangya (Exams Coordinator): Has over 23 years of teaching experience and is currently the chairman of Non-Governmental Private Schools Organization (NGOPSO) and Vice Chairman of Tanzania Primary Schools Head Teacher’s Association (TAPSHA). He is also the Head Master of Julius Nyerere Pre & Primary School.

4. Justin Tito (Digital Marketing Specialist): Has over 4 years of experience in Digital Marketing for agile high-growth Startups.  He has overseen Growth and User Acquisition for Tala, a Fintech Silicon Valley Startup, and managed to drive over 100,000 users in its first year of operations in Tanzania.

At ExamNet we embrace, ensure and promote social and gender equality, fair treatment, equality of opportunity, and fairness in access to information and resources for all. Our core value is 'respect and dignity for all'. 

An example of embracing and promoting gender equality, ExamNet in collaboration with Women Fund Tanzania we conducted a 3 months program to engage schoolgirls to overcome educational challenges that are caused by COVID-19. The program involved 200 girls from 4 primary schools in Dar es salaam City in Tanzania.

1. Gain access to funding to finance the project

2. Gain knowledge and advice from fellow startups that will be selected for the programme.

3. Seeking guidance and support from an assigned mentor whenever we encounter challenges.

No, I don't qualify.