JET Education
Services, South Africa
About JET Educational Services
Mona Partner Since 2021
JET Education Services, an educational nonprofit based in Johannesburg, has worked to improve the quality of education in South Africa for over three decades.
In partnership with PLT Health Solutions, Mona’s relationship with JET began in 2021 when Educational Initiatives selected it to pilot the Mindspark AI-driven personalized adaptive learning software in six primary schools in South Africa’s Western Cape.
The Challenge
In 2019, the World Bank estimated that 50-80% of children finishing primary school in low- and middle-income countries suffered from "learning poverty" and could not read or understand a simple text.
In South Africa, 27% of students in Grade 6 were found to be functionally illiterate. This has led to widespread heterogeneity in learning levels of children within a single classroom and across educational systems.
The Solution: Mindspark implemented by JET
Educational Initiatives (Ei) developed Mindspark, an AI-driven personalized adaptive learning software that meets children where they are in their learning journey. Mindspark benchmarks the initial learning level of every student and dynamically customizes lessons to match their pace and progress. The platform blends tailored questions, activities, stories, and games so students not only catch up but excel.
Independent evaluations have found that students using Mindspark achieve 2.5x learning gains, with improvements in both Math and Language. Available in 10+ languages and customized to align with local curricula, it is accessible on any device and proven to work even in low-resource environments.
The use of integrated AI innovations such as oral reading fluency assessments, misconception detection, and real-time personalized feedback for both students and teachers help students across economic and demographic backgrounds excel.
The program in South Africa collaborates with a local non-profit to implement the program and has reached more than 18,000 students in Mitchells Plain, Mpumalanga, Gauteng.
Mindspark's impact in South Africa
Watch the impact Mindspark is having on the lives of thousands of students in South Africa.
How we help
We have always believed that alone, we are a drop. Together a surging sea. We aim to collaborate with likeminded organizations, institutions, corporations and foundations to collectively level the playing field, scale our reach and impact, and improve quality of teaching and learning for more students.
To this end, in 2021 we welcomed a collaborative partnership with the philanthropist, Paul Flowerman, the Chairman of PLT Health Solutions and JET Educational Services to provide access to Mindspark to disadvantaged students in India, South Africa, Zambia, and Cambodia. The results speak for themselves.
2024 Achievements
- In Steenberg and Mitchells Plain on the Western Cape, the Mindspark program:
- Served 6 primary public schools
- Provided access to Mindspark software for 1,396 students in Grades 5 and 6
2025 Plans, $15,000
- Expand the implementation of Mindspark in schools across South Africa, serving 3,333 primary school students
A Student's Voice: Matthew
"I’m 12 years old and I attend Beaconview Primary School. I am currently in Grade 7 and live in Beacon Valley, Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, South Africa. I have been part of the Mindspark program since 2022 and have found it incredibly helpful in improving my understanding of mathematics.
I live in an area that faces many challenges, such as gangsterism, unemployment, and drug-related issues. My family does their best to provide for me, but we don’t have much. I attend a no-fee school, subsidized by the Western Cape Education Department.
One day, I hope to attend university and study to become a lawyer because I want to help people who are less fortunate and need support. I believe that fairness and equality are essential for building a better society.
I often come home eager to work on the program and compete to become the "Sparkie Champion" in my class. My parents are especially pleased because they have noticed a consistent improvement in my math grades throughout the year. They believe that if more schools had access to program like this, it could greatly benefit our community."
Other Partner Projects
Badi School, PANAMA
Barli Institute, INDIA
