Gradely, ed-tech startup, rolls-out virtual learning management system for schools

By Tobias Pius

Gradely, a Nigerian ed-tech startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help parents and schools intervene in real-time to plug student learning gaps, has unveiled a homegrown virtual learning management system (LMS) for schools.

The startup’s LMS called “Gradely For Schools” is a teacher-led LMS, built for personalised learning, with features like live classes to organise and hold engaging class experiences, assessment tools to set up robust and relevant assessment formats fitted with the Nigerian and British curriculum-aligned question pool, a proctored examination system to hold credible remote academic evaluations, and a suite of personalised video lessons, practice quizzes and games library known as Gradely CatchUp! to support in-class efforts with students at home.

The personalisation works by having tonnes of assessment content mapped by topic and difficulty, and following performance on adaptive tests.! Students are afforded recommendations daily to catch up on weak areas which gives room for measurable improvement in student’s performance and a learning path that is unique to each child.

Boye Oshinaga, founder of Gradely said, “We saw that while African schools had begun to adopt technology, they had not figured out how to leverage it to improve learning outcomes. Today, 200 million African students, many in private schools as well as public schools, are in school but not learning. This is nine out of every 10 students on the continent.

“It is possible to use Gradely at home as a standalone learning supplement or in conjunction with school, so that homework and class material can be viewed directly on the app as well. In this case, where the app is school-integrated, parents see a report that is the most representative source of truth of the child’s learning progress,” he further said.

So far, Gradely has been used by more than 5,000 Nigerian parents and 200 schools as part of its beta testing, and it plans to go wider, expanding region-by-region across Africa and potentially globally.

The platform has in the past raised $150,000 in pre-seed funding from angel investors and venture capitalist firms such as Ventures Platform and Microtraction.

As internet penetration and device access grows, Gradely is of the opinion that every school and parent in Africa will require a digital learning environment that complements classroom education and gives students a leg up in future exams.