The self-study method is similar to the one
that has not developed much in Rwanda before the Covid-19 pandemic, where it
has proved to be a savior for students who have been sitting at home for a
whole year. It didn't end with the epidemic though as technology quickly
demonstrated its irrevocable contribution to educational solutions.
Niyonizei Abdulrahman who recently launched
the 'Smart Class' technology that helps children review their lessons during
the Covid-19 outbreak, his website has contributed to helping children learn
and is able to be an agency that provides employment to others.
In a detailed interview with IGIHE,
Niyonizeye returned to the way he founded 'Smart Class' where it has brought
him and those he is currently helping both the students and those he has hired.
Niyonizeye said that he founded 'Smart
Class' with the aim of eliminating the obstacles related to repeating courses
that some students face and he himself went through them.
He said, “I have studied in different
institutions and I think it is very important that students take advantage of
the opportunities that are at other institutions and they are not able to get
there. The reason is that institutions lack capacity such as infrastructure
such as science laboratories and good teachers. It was difficult for us to
study, so I didn't think of something that would make the children in different
institutions able to learn together and share the good things in different
institutions.
He said that the idea came to him while he was studying in high school, but it kept growing until 2018 when he discussed with his colleagues to build a website where it could be done and they did experiments in different companies, then in 2019 this website was launched.
Niyonizey also explained that the way he works is by signing contracts with schools and individual parents who want their children to be helped to repeat their studies.
Once the institution or the parent has agreed on the child's participation in the 'Smart Class', there is a registration process so that the children can access the website and follow the lessons.
Rehearsals are held between 6:00pm and 9:00pm after students finish their regular school hours.
Courses are taught through the curriculum of educational institutions where students in one school year go on to study a certain subject on their own to take them.
Niyonizeye says that one of the motivations for him is the award he won in the 'Youth Connect Awards' and received about 20 million Frw, which enabled him to expand the 'Smart Class', which was able to expand by more than two times the number of students and employ other staff, including about 40 teachers. they help deliver those lessons.
He says that he is currently helping more than 16,000 students review their courses in 23 institutions, including public and private institutions and others enrolled by homeschooling parents.
Noyonizeye advised his fellow youths to make use of technology because it is one of the areas with many opportunities and the government has invested in building related infrastructure.
Noyonizeye advised his fellow youths to make use of technology because it is one of the areas with many opportunities and the government has invested in building related infrastructure.
He asked them to be brave in the journey of self-employment because being an entrepreneur is possible when a person is able to commit to work and face the most discouraging things in the beginning.
