The Managing Director, Mytcodes Limited, Mr. Oluwayomi Ojo, speaks about the benefits of marketing schools through online applications, in this interview with IFE ADEDAPO
What are the major challenges parents face when selecting schools for their children?
Naturally, parents have more confidence in their choice of schools when it is chosen from different options placed side by side than having to make a choice from a ‘stand alone’ platform (like individual schools’ websites in this case).
The use of apps for parents, affords them the luxury of selecting a school for their wards from a well-informed angle.
Before now, it is very difficult for parents to have an idea of schools’ tuition fees from the schools’ websites but a unified site has many useful information including price range to assist them with their decision-making process on their choice of schools for their wards.
What is Schools Compass all about?
Schools compass is a unique online solution that creates a robust platform for primary and secondary schools in Nigeria to come together and market their schools to parents. In other words, it is not just a directory of schools in Nigeria, it is a marketing platform where each school is expected to have a stand or profile and parents come to shop for schools for their wards.
Parents can at a glance view the list of facilities in the school, the activities they do, clubs in the schools, awards and academic performance among others.
They (parents) can search for schools across states, local government areas, in terms of boarding facilities and even their budgets. Most importantly, they can compare schools by placing them side by side to see the difference in tabular form.
There is also the Compass Hall of Fame that celebrates exceptional students in external examinations like WAEC and NECO. We are in a society that celebrates more of artists and politicians and tends to neglect the education sector. We have chosen to tread the road less travelled and celebrate these young stars by dedicating a page for them on this platform. In doing this, apart from recognising these stars, we are also inspiring others coming behind and sending signals that the society still values hard work in education.
What are the major benefits of this app to parents and to schools?
For schools, leads from this app are more likely to be useful than from other sources. For example, statistics have it that the traditional ways of advertising using schools flyers and other print adverts only get to two per cent of the intended audience but with schools compass, the reverse is the case, 98 per cent of visitors are parents looking for schools for their wards. They actually visit to read the school’s profile.
Pictures of memorable schools events that hitherto gather dust on the shelves of school owners are converted to marketing tools for the viewing pleasure of parents and to the benefit of the schools. Such events pages are covered, communicated to parents, and attached to schools’ profiles.
Take for instance, a parent relocating from town A to B looking for a school with the same standard, with what they currently have in A can easily visit the site, select the current school in A and up to 3 other schools in B, hit ‘compare’ button to place them side by side to see the school that has a similar standard in terms of facilities, activities, academic performance and many other factors.
A parent who budgeted X amount for tuition fees does not need to waste time with schools that collect X+Y amount. On the other hand, the app helps schools receive less enquiries from parents who cannot afford their fees or/and do not necessarily need their facilities. So, it saves time for both parties.
Parents can also search for schools, based on their membership category. Parents may decide to see just ‘Exclusive’ or/and ‘Premium’ schools. These are subscribed members’ schools and it is perceived as a classical way of categorising schools. Basic membership is free of charge and opens to all schools.
Prospective parents can also read independent reviews from other parents in making their decision. They also have the options of contacting the school directly for enquiry from the platform. Existing parents can equally contact their schools.
There is also an option to download admission forms and newsletters of member schools.
Since it is a web platform, how is it different from individual schools’ websites?
First, this platform provides an opportunity for parents to meet the school without prior knowledge of neither the school nor its website.
Second, it is more popular than any schools’ website because it has a composition of all schools’ websites and other details.
Finally, it is optimised and designed to accommodate some features that most websites do not have.
What are the categories of members you have and their advantages?
There are Basic, Premium, and Exclusive members. Basic members schools can register for free, Premium and Exclusive members pay subscription fees. To parents and other non-school owners, to shop for schools is free and registration is not required though recommended.
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