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DataDIGEST, a South African software development company, has developed edly – an innovative cloud-based platform that aims to raise the standards of education by reducing the workload of teachers. According to a statement released on Sunday, the software developer said the educational tool is the first of its kind in Africa and can be customised to suit a school’s policies.

The tool works on any computer, tablet or smartphone. Two of the initial three apps, edly Attendance and edly Behaviour, allow teachers to easily and quickly capture class attendance and behaviour. The third app edly Note! sends instant reports to parents.

The apps seamlessly work together to take the hassle out of school administrations, DataDIGEST said.

“We believe that a student’s progress and results directly correlate with how much time and interaction they have with their teachers," said David de Villiers, Chief Executive Officer of DataDIGEST. "edly helps create more quality time by allowing teachers to cut their admin time.”  

The CEO noted that edly’s development was also based on the insight that the best results are achieved when teachers, parents and students work closely together. He said teachers within a school’s edly network can access students’ information at any time and receive instant reports on their behaviour and attendance, opening up the channels for better collaboration and communication within schools.

“We’re passionate about education and want to help raise the standards around the world. We believe teachers are the key to a great education and that’s why we develop solutions that empower them in the classroom,” de Villiers added.

The company said educators can rely on edly’s parent communicator, edly Note!, to keep parents in the loop. Parents are involved on a daily basis by sending them an SMS or e-mail [via edly Note!]. This means teachers can get the job done a lot quicker and more effectively.

“DataDIGEST is passionate about education, so for us it’s a fantastic achievement to be able to contribute to its development through edly," said Alastair Christian, DataDIGEST's Chief Operating Officer. "We look forward to seeing the platform grow and giving every teacher the opportunity to experience its positive outcomes in their schools.”  

The edly package ranges from a free, basic package used by a maximum of three teachers for an unlimited time, to a premium package for larger groups of teachers. There is also a special package for pre-schools.