South African classrooms are crowded and teachers are stretched thin. It is common for one teacher to manage forty learners at the same time, making individual attention extremely difficult. When learners fall behind, the system does not slow down to accommodate them.
This problem is what inspired Hoosein Moolla to create iTutorSA.
Hoosein is a self-taught software engineer, but his work with learners began long before he built the app. For many years, he tutored learners individually as a hobby and a passion. During that time, he repeatedly noticed the same pattern. Learners were not falling behind because they were lazy or incapable. The education system simply moved on even when students did not understand.
Private tutors are expensive, classrooms are overcrowded, and many learners do not have anyone to help them at home. Hoosein wanted to build a solution that could provide support exactly when learners needed it.
He explains, “Our vision is simple. We want to give every South African learner, regardless of background, access to a tutor who is patient, knowledgeable, and always available. If we can change the way one child experiences learning, we can change their future.”
This vision became iTutorSA, an AI-powered tutoring app created specifically for South African learners.
Hoosein describes the app, saying, “iTutorSA is designed to help students understand their schoolwork step by step, according to their own curriculum, and at their own pace. Whether learners are stuck on homework, revising for exams, or trying to close learning gaps, the app functions like a patient, one-on-one tutor that is always available.”
The app is different from most education apps because it does more than display content. Hoosein says, “Most education apps simply present information and move on. iTutorSA identifies what a learner is missing, explains it in simple language appropriate to their grade and curriculum, and then provides targeted practice with immediate feedback.”
iTutorSA supports learners from Grade R through Grade 12, and it works across all major South African languages. It covers essential subjects, including mathematics, physical sciences, life sciences, and accounting. The content aligns with CAPS, IEB, and SACAI curricula, and the app also offers NBT support for students preparing for university entrance exams.
“The goal of the app is for learners to open it and immediately understand what to study next,” Hoosein explains. “It allows them to approach their studies with confidence, knowing exactly where they are and what comes next.”
Hoosein emphasizes that iTutorSA is not designed to replace teachers. He says, “This app is intended to support learners when they are alone, struggling, and when teachers are not able to provide immediate help. Teachers do incredible work, and iTutorSA exists to complement that work rather than replace it.”
In a South African education system under pressure, iTutorSA aims to meet learners where they are. The app provides support at home, on a learner’s own schedule, during the moments when confusion can turn into falling behind.
For Hoosein, the central idea is access. He believes that every learner, not just those who are privileged, should have the opportunity to receive guidance and support whenever they need it. iTutorSA exists to provide that opportunity to all learners across the country.
