Addressing Overcrowding in African Schools: The Rise of Kidato

Classrooms in many public schools throughout Africa are frequently overcrowded, negatively impacting the interactions between educators and learners. This large class size places a significant workload on teachers, often resulting in students’ individual learning needs being overlooked.

While private schools often aim to resolve these issues, their costs can be prohibitive for many middle-class families in Africa. Kidato, an online school serving K-12 students across the continent, offers a different solution and has recently announced the successful completion of a $1.4 million seed funding round.

Investment Details and Key Backers

The investment round saw participation from several prominent firms, including Learn Start Capital, Launch Africa Ventures Fund, Graph Ventures, and Century Oak Capital, alongside a number of angel investors from both local and international markets.

The Genesis of Kidato: A Founder's Personal Experience

Kidato was established in 2020 by Sam Gichuru, a Kenyan entrepreneur with a proven track record. Driven by his own experiences as a parent of three, Gichuru recognized the challenges faced by many Kenyan families struggling with the high cost of private education – often exceeding $8,000 annually.

“I transitioned my children from private schools to homeschooling to maintain educational quality at a more affordable price,” Gichuru explained in an interview. “It was during this period that I became acutely aware of the shortcomings inherent in traditional schooling systems.”

Identifying Core Problems in Existing School Models

Gichuru pinpointed two primary concerns. First, the overcrowded nature of schools, with public schools often exhibiting a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:50, and even private schools averaging 1:20. He noted that lower ratios were typically reserved for the most expensive institutions.

Second, he observed the considerable time commitment required for students to commute to school. In Nairobi, students attending private schools often began their day as early as 5 a.m., preparing for a 6 a.m. bus ride to arrive at school by 7 a.m.

From Homeschooling to a Scalable Online Platform

Initially, Gichuru employed tutors to provide his children with instruction at home. However, with the onset of the pandemic, he developed a platform utilizing Zoom to facilitate continued learning.

By September, this platform expanded to include ten additional children outside his family. This growth accelerated, reaching 30 students enrolled in the at-home learning program by January.

Factors Driving Adoption

The product’s appeal is readily apparent. The widespread adoption of video conferencing tools like Zoom, coupled with increasing internet accessibility across Africa, has created a favorable environment. Furthermore, reduced commute times allow families to spend more quality time together and lower transportation expenses.

Y Combinator Acceptance and Rapid Growth

Capitalizing on the shift towards remote work and learning, Kidato was accepted into the Y Combinator program in January. Since then, the startup has onboarded over 50 students and reports a quarterly growth rate of 100%.

Kidato’s Core Value Proposition

Gichuru emphasizes Kidato’s commitment to improved learning outcomes through smaller, more personalized class sizes. The platform offers an international curriculum with an average teacher-to-student ratio of 1:5.

The company also provides a range of extracurricular activities, including robotics, chess, art, coding, and debate, traditionally accessible only to students in more affluent schools. These opportunities are now being extended to over 700 registered students, with lesson costs at $5 per session.

Interactive Learning and Engaging Pedagogy

Kidato aims to make learning both enjoyable and effective. The company provides training to its 300+ teachers on incorporating interactive elements into their lessons, drawing inspiration from popular gaming platforms like Minecraft and Roblox.

“We’ve integrated reward mechanisms, similar to those found in arcade games, into our teaching methods, creating virtual classes that are both engaging and stimulating,” a company statement explained.

Addressing Potential Challenges: Teacher Supply

A potential concern is whether Kidato can maintain an adequate supply of qualified teachers to meet growing demand. However, the CEO believes the company has a solution.

The closure of many private schools during lockdowns, coupled with subsequent fee increases and teacher salary reductions, has created an opportunity for Kidato to attract educators with the promise of better compensation. A waitlist of 3,000 teachers currently exists, potentially creating a pipeline for 15,000 students.

Financial Advantages and Teacher Compensation

Kidato benefits from lower overhead costs compared to traditional schools, as it does not require expensive real estate. This allows a greater portion of revenue to be allocated to teacher salaries.

“Our teachers earn at least 50% more than the average private school teacher, which has attracted a strong pool of talent,” Gichuru stated.

Kidato operates on a 70/30 revenue split with teachers, with educators receiving the larger share. Teachers can earn an average of $2,000 per month by combining regular classes with after-school programs.

Addressing Socialization Concerns and Future Expansion

While the platform’s academic offerings are compelling, concerns about socialization have been raised. Kidato is addressing this by forging partnerships with corporations to organize monthly educational field trips for students.

“We are demonstrating the strong social connections students develop on our platform. We’re collaborating with companies to provide opportunities for visits to plantations, factories, and planetariums,” the CEO added.

A Seasoned Entrepreneur at the Helm

Kidato represents Gichuru’s second venture through Y Combinator. He previously founded Nailab, a well-known Kenyan incubator, and co-founded Kuhustle, a recruitment platform. Kuhustle participated in the Y Combinator Fellowship program in 2016.

Given Gichuru’s experience and Kidato’s position as the sole edtech startup in the current Y Combinator batch, the company has high expectations. Backed by an Ivy League university endowment fund, Kidato will utilize the seed funding to drive growth and product development, with the ultimate goal of becoming a leading alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Gichuru envisions Kidato as “the biggest online school for K-12 students” in the coming years.