Insights: January 2024

As the first month of the year draws to a close, here’s all the biggest edtech takeaways we saw throughout January.

Andrew Lippert joins Edmentum as Chief Technology Officer

Global education leader in K12 learning technology solutions Edmentum has added Andrew Lippert to its Executive Leadership Team as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), bringing Lippert’s expertise in product strategy, system architecture, software development, and executive management on board.

“Over the course of his career, Andrew has demonstrated the technology leadership, particularly in learning innovation, that aligns directly with our focus in providing evidence-based learning acceleration and intervention programs that meet the unique needs of each and every one of our learners,” said Jamie Candee, President and CEO of Edmentum.

“We are thrilled that Andrew shares our passion for servant leadership, and building and maintaining a culture that puts students and educators first. I’m pleased to welcome him to our team.”

Edtech startup iSchool bags funding

Egyptian edtech startup iSchool raised $4.5 million in funding to boost its expansion into six additional countries in the MENA region, having already delivered over one million hours of live gamified classes led by coding instructors.

“We are delighted to be joined by a number of vastly experienced and strategic investors, whose expertise will not only play a vital role ahead of our future expansion but also in our current activities, managing national-level initiatives in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates,”

said co-founder Mohamed Algawish.

Rhode Island Commerce initiates digital equity survey to bridge the digital divide

The ConnectRI Digital Equity Survey aims to gather valuable feedback from Rhode Island locals about their digital opportunity needs, and the barriers they currently face in accessing affordable internet services, devices, and digital skills training.

“In an increasingly digital world, access to high-speed and affordable broadband service is now more important than ever,” said Governor Dan McKee. “It’s critical that we take the steps now to help create a future where every Rhode Islander has the tools to thrive, creating a digitally inclusive society that will become a catalyst for economic prosperity.” 

School attendance statistics continue to worry

Commenting on the latest information from the Government on attendance in schools, General Secretary of the National Education Union Daniel Kebede said:

“Tackling the increasing waiting times for specialist SEND and mental health support is now essential. The rollout of the attendance hubs and mental health support teams is too slow to effectively support the majority of young people and families who reach a crisis point, leading to school absence, before any intervention takes place.   

“Schools have been picking up the pieces of a broken SEND system and child poverty crisis for too long now and with their own resources under increasing pressure can no longer continue to deliver the core education services, pick up the work of SEND and mental health professionals and offer social services support to their students.”

1 in 8 schools were in deficit at the end of last year

The Government’s latest data on school funding shows that one in eight schools were in deficit at the end of the financial year 2022-23, the highest since at least 2010.

Kebede commented:

“These figures show the enormous financial pressure that schools are under from rapidly rising costs and the inadequate level of Government funding.

“Primary class sizes are the highest in Europe. And secondary class sizes are the highest since records began almost fifty years ago (1977). More than a million children are taught in classes with more than 30 pupils.

“The Government must not ignore the plight of England’s schools for another year and the Chancellor should use the forthcoming Spring Budget to protect education from further cuts in provision.”

Jagoda: The AI revolution in homework assistance

This month marks the launch of romic.com’s Jagoda, the personal AI tutor designed to make quality education support accessible to all students. The platform offers tailored homework assistance, built to enhance students’ understanding of their studies and promote a more personalised approach to education.

CEO of romic.com Jurica Romic commented:

"Education is evolving, and Jagoda is at the forefront of this transformation… By personalising the learning experience, we're not just solving homework; we're building confidence, enhancing knowledge, and preparing students for a brighter future."