A new educational technology platform, GetBundi, has launched with a focus on equipping African youths with high quality, accessible and affordable Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning (education) and STI digital skills.
A product of Wings of Justice Limited, GetBundi was unveiled on June 30, 2022 in Lagos targeting to refocus Africa’s education towards STEM and digital skills as a way to lift millions out of poverty.
Speaking at the launch, Osita Oparaugo, CEO/founder of GetBundi, said the idea of the platform came from an understanding that only countries with STEM-enabled citizenry can achieve meaningful development.
He said that STEM learning encourages creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills which are very relevant in the 21st century world, and so prepares developing economies to compete in the global market.
“Singapore used science and technology in turning from a developing country to developed country. China went from having a no-flush problem to being a global leader in science. These countries have flourishing economies as a result of the critical role scientific and technological advancements have played,” Oparaugo said.
“What China and Singapore have achieved in less than 50 years, Africa can also attain using STEM Education and STI Skills acquisition, especially when one considers the abundance of human capital and the resilient nature of Africans, especially the youths,” he said.
Oparaugo said GetBundi also focuses on secondary education and that the platform currently hosts over 1,008 hours of audio-visual content covering six years of secondary school work using the West African curriculum. It covers subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, ICT, Data Processing, English Language, etc.
“There is also revision for competitive examinations, in particular, WAEC Examinations for up to three years with monthly LIVE question and answer sessions,” he said.
The GetBundi founder projected that the platform would support and upskill 10 million Africans in the next 10 years through STEM and STI digital skills acquisition via a strategy tagged ‘The GetBundi Vision 2032’.
He emphasised that GetBundi is not intended as a replacement for the traditional method of teaching or physical secondary school but as a supplement that can be used as a teachers’ aid, to support continuous learning in-school students and as a study guide for out-of-school students/homeschoolers.
GetBundi is also working to include three years of JAMB, IELTS, and TOEFL revision classes, as well as Science, Technology and Innovation skills in its next product deployment, he said. The STI skills would include video editing, digital marketing, graphic design and coding courses, and users who successfully complete a course and its accompanying assignments would earn a diploma.
He urged the African Union and regional economic organisations on the continent, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to key into the GetBundi vision.
On cost, Oparaugo said, “You can have full access to the GetBundi product for a whole year at $50 (or N25, 000) only. Our other plans give you access for 90 days at $20 (or N10, 000) and 180 days at $36 (or N18, 000),” Oparaugo said.
Juliet Ijeh, programme coordinator of GetBundi, said the motivation for the project is to get STEM learning across as many youths as possible irrespective of their location, especially with the high level of insecurity across Africa which has made learning in schools more difficult.
“This product will make innovative learning attractive to young minds such that even after secondary school, some of them can decide to be entrepreneurs, or go into creative and productive activities,” Ijeh said.