Snapplify joins Ed21 forum to tackle inefficient education system

The key to tackling the education sector as a startup is being able to move fast and adapt quickly to the changing needs of the sector says Snapplify growth director Tarryn-Anne Anderson.

The digital publishing solutions startup has teamed up with the likes of Vastratech, Principal Software and D6 Technology to form the Ed21 forum. The forum forms part of an ongoing movement to assist schools in transforming into a digital space.

“Snapplify decided to join the Ed21 forum because we believe in developing better, and more effective ways of promoting and providing digital education,” said Anderson.

“The other members of the forum are also thought leaders in this space, and it is important for us to be in conversation, and to find points of connection for further collaboration.”

Anderson said the partnership put the company in “conversation with like-minded companies”. She said it also provided a forum in which to have important discussions about the future of the industry.

In order for the forum to create observable change, it would need constant backing, she added.

‘Disruption in education has already happened, but there’s more work to do’

“This is an area with massive potential and which has garnered a lot of interest, but given the proven importance of good and holistic education, we’re not sure we can ever say that there is ‘enough’ interest and investment,” said Anderson

Ventureburn asked how other startups can tackle government inefficiencies in the education system.

“A lot of blame is often assigned under the broad banner of ‘government inefficiency’, but the reality is that there are a lot of moving parts, which make this a complicated space to work in,” she said.

She said agile companies, with “a militant startup-style culture”, are most often characterised by being technologically forward.

“These technologies can be used to streamline a lot of the processes in the sector, ensure better and cleaner data, and provide tools for better communication, collaboration, and feedback — all of which improves efficacy across the board.”

In terms of disrupting the education space there’s still a lot of work to be done according to Anderson.  

“Given the prioritisation of digital learning in many schools and by national and provincial education departments, elearning is increasingly the status quo — the disruption has already happened.”

“But these progressions (which we often term disruptions), are the way that we push ourselves, and the sector, forward,” said Anderson.