EvaluNet
Encyclopedia
EvaluNet Ltd is a South African-based developer of educational software headquartered in Cape Town
. The company was founded in 1995 as Interactive Learning Solutions and changed name to EvaluNet in 1999. In September 1999, Naspers
, a multinational JSE-listed media company, purchased a 49% share holding in EvaluNet. In 2002, the company founder and MD, Dereck Marnewick, purchased this share holding back from Naspers.
In 2003 the South African National Department of Education commissioned EvaluNet and four other local companies to form a national body representing educational vendors in their dealings with government and educational institutions. The organization is called the Associated Distributors of Educational Supplies in Southern Africa and currently represents 40 members.
In 2005, e-SCHOOL was criticized for being too open-ended for most South African teachers that require more content-rich resources. The company has since revised its product offering and has released new titles under the Biblion, GetAhead, XT (the replacement to e-SCHOOL) and MathPRO brands.
EvaluNet has also had a role to play in developing online resources for teachers in South Africa, namely with its online publication Teacher's Monthly
and its involvement in developing an online publication entitled Teaching English Today for the English Academy of Southern Africa - the only academy for the English language in the world.
, one of South Africa's biggest Internet service providers, to develop MWEB School, which became South Africa's first online learning portal. This partnership remained until late 1999. In that same year, EvaluNet became the first South African educational software developer to engage in ecommerce to market products online.
In 2006 EvaluNet became a partner in the NEPAD E-School Programme
initiative by way of the Oracle Consortium. This consortium comprised a total of fourteen companies, including the Oracle Corporation
.
In September 2010, EvaluNet announced a partnership with Woolworths (South Africa)
MySchool MyPlanet MyVillage corporate social investment initiative. This partnership saw EvaluNet software marketed via the MySchool initiative with a resulting contribution of income used to uplift schools in disadvantaged communities.
In 2011 EvaluNet announced a partnership with EPA Technologies, a Jamaican-based educational software developer serving the Caribbean region. This partnership took EvaluNet products into the overseas market and formed a new direction for business development. This new venture is headed up by Adrian Marnewick who is the EvaluNet Business Development Manager and son of EvaluNet MD and founder Dereck Marnewick.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. The company was founded in 1995 as Interactive Learning Solutions and changed name to EvaluNet in 1999. In September 1999, Naspers
Naspers
Naspers is a South Africa-based multinational media company with principal operations in electronic media and print media Naspers is a South Africa-based multinational media company with principal operations in electronic media (including pay-television, internet and instant-messaging subscriber...
, a multinational JSE-listed media company, purchased a 49% share holding in EvaluNet. In 2002, the company founder and MD, Dereck Marnewick, purchased this share holding back from Naspers.
In 2003 the South African National Department of Education commissioned EvaluNet and four other local companies to form a national body representing educational vendors in their dealings with government and educational institutions. The organization is called the Associated Distributors of Educational Supplies in Southern Africa and currently represents 40 members.
Products
In 1996, EvaluNet become the first company to introduce the concept of assessment and testing software to the South African school and business market. By September 2000, 300 South African schools were using EvaluNet's flagship software product e-SCHOOL to conduct paperless tests and examinations.In 2005, e-SCHOOL was criticized for being too open-ended for most South African teachers that require more content-rich resources. The company has since revised its product offering and has released new titles under the Biblion, GetAhead, XT (the replacement to e-SCHOOL) and MathPRO brands.
EvaluNet has also had a role to play in developing online resources for teachers in South Africa, namely with its online publication Teacher's Monthly
Teacher's Monthly
Teacher's Monthly is a South African-based web site that provides educational resources, lessons, videos, news and articles for teachers and educators...
and its involvement in developing an online publication entitled Teaching English Today for the English Academy of Southern Africa - the only academy for the English language in the world.
Partnerships
In 1997 EvaluNet was contracted by MWEBMWEB
MWEB is a South Africa's second largest Internet Service Provider founded in 1997. As of March 2011 it has approximately 350 000 subscribers...
, one of South Africa's biggest Internet service providers, to develop MWEB School, which became South Africa's first online learning portal. This partnership remained until late 1999. In that same year, EvaluNet became the first South African educational software developer to engage in ecommerce to market products online.
In 2006 EvaluNet became a partner in the NEPAD E-School Programme
New Partnership for Africa's Development E-School Program
The New Partnership for Africa's Development E-School Programme run by NEPAD aims to provide computers and internet access to all schools in Africa within 10 years, and also to set up health points to tie in with Nepad's E-Health program....
initiative by way of the Oracle Consortium. This consortium comprised a total of fourteen companies, including the Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
.
In September 2010, EvaluNet announced a partnership with Woolworths (South Africa)
Woolworths (South Africa)
Woolworths Holdings Limited is a South African chain of retail stores and one of the largest in the country, modeled on Marks & Spencer of the United Kingdom . This relationship with Britain's Marks and Spencer was formed after the Second World War, which led to the retailer buying all of the...
MySchool MyPlanet MyVillage corporate social investment initiative. This partnership saw EvaluNet software marketed via the MySchool initiative with a resulting contribution of income used to uplift schools in disadvantaged communities.
In 2011 EvaluNet announced a partnership with EPA Technologies, a Jamaican-based educational software developer serving the Caribbean region. This partnership took EvaluNet products into the overseas market and formed a new direction for business development. This new venture is headed up by Adrian Marnewick who is the EvaluNet Business Development Manager and son of EvaluNet MD and founder Dereck Marnewick.