A new online platform that offers extra tuition to high school learners was launched by the ed-tech company SOCO_ED recently.
The Woodstock-based company launched Topic to transform the approach to exam preparation and learning methodologies for learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12.
Since its establishment in 2018, SOCO_ED has garnered acclaim for crafting diverse educational platforms that cater to both institutions and corporations.
The online platform is spearheaded by entrepreneur Francois van Louw who says the resources on Topic are crafted to not only captivate learners’ interest but also to mirror their familiarity with various online social media platforms.
Van Louw says: “Our mission with Topic is to ensure that every learner has an equitable chance to reach high-quality educational resources via our free platform. It was developed to help learners gain a deeper grasp of the subjects taught in their classes.
“We believe that, in turn, this will ensure that they are better equipped for classroom tests and examinations, ultimately enhancing their academic readiness.”
According to Van Louw, their content aligns with the weekly topics covered in classrooms, which adheres to the Department of Basic Education’s annual teaching plans.
“Each video lesson is strategically designed to fit within a concise 15-minute timeframe, fostering focused learning for assessments.”
He says Topic provides study materials for 11 subjects that follow the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) Curriculum designed for Grades 10, 11 and 12.
“Each lesson provided on the platform comprises an engaging animated video lesson, an online quiz, a worksheet along with its answers, and a presentation format of the lesson. All accessible without any subscription fees,” he explains.
Van Louw says they focus on learners in the Further Education and Training (FET) phase in high school to equip them for tertiary learning.
“The dropout rates are also notably higher during Grades 10 and 11. Our goal is to provide support to these learners, reinforcing their path to higher education and other career prospects.”
Van Louw says they aim to improve learners’ performance.
“A survey in South Africa found that 48% of (learners) were not satisfied with their performance. More than 40 % of these learners said the main reason is that teachers do not give them enough individual attention to thrive.”
Van Louw explains that soon learners will gain entry to application and bursary portals.
“These platforms will furnish them with details about the wide array of undergraduate programmes accessible in South Africa. Moreover, they’ll receive guidance on the process of applying for bursaries that match their chosen undergraduate programs.”
He says thanks to the Topic News blog learners will also have access to career-related insights and lifestyle updates.
“We’re actively working on creating an edutainment series tailored to high school learners, set to be available for streaming on the Topic platform within the coming weeks.”
- Learners can register for Topic free-of-charge by visiting www.topic.co.za
