Winner of last year’s Best Education Solution category MTN Business App of the Year Award, Lesego Finger has decided to forfeit his income in an effort to help the class of 2020. Matriculants can use his app to stay on top of their studies. Matric Live app is accessible to hundreds of pupils. The Business App of the Year Awards are aimed not just at encouraging the efforts of local developers, but building an industry that will contribute to transforming key sectors in SA while rebuilding the economy.
Finger began writing gaming apps while still in high school. He then shifted to education, starting by loading subjects he was good at, and the app grew from there. The App now has 15 subjects for a subscription fee of R10 a month, or a lump-sum payment of R100. year. Matric live app went a step further to help grade 10 to 12s during lockdown by forgoing its nominal fee and adding another 20,000 registrations to its database.
“When SA went into lockdown we stopped charging this fee, whose sole income has disappeared with his decision to enable free access,” noted Finger. Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude to learners who have used the app and shared some of the testimonials.āThanks a lot for this app. I come from a poor village with a lack of resources, where we have to share textbooks. We donāt have computers. Also, we have a lack of informationā¦ sometimes it is hard to study because we donāt have books and study guides,ā said one of the pupil’s.
āSince I downloaded and used this app, my problems have decreased. I am even one of the top pupils at school thanks to this app. You saved my future,ā said another student. Despite the numerous offers to buy Matric Live with offers of a permanent job and a large share in the profits, Finger has decided to continue working alongside his team of five. The department of education used his services to set up an app enabling pupils to source previous exam papers to help prepare for matric, and he has additional plans of his own.
āI want to expand the offering so it covers grade R to 12, and examine the opportunity for university courses. I also believe there a way to develop an app that will allow people to write exams at home. Devices now come with cameras with microphones. There are also tools that can flag eye movements, keystrokes, and also record screens so that the integrity of an online exam can be guaranteed,ā added Finger.
Kholo Magagane, Head of marketing at MTN SA Business, said apps like Matric Live are filling the gaps in delivering education in SA not just during the pandemic, but by reaching more youth in rural or disadvantaged communities.
