Laura Pepera, the founder and CEO of VirTutor Online, established Ghana’s first online tutoring platform in 2021. With a Master’s in Clinical Pharmacology from King’s College London, Laura’s passion for tutoring and improving academic standards drove her to create a platform aimed at enhancing the quality of education in Ghana.
Laura shared with Just4WomenAfrica that many students struggled to achieve the grades they needed because traditional teaching methods were not engaging them effectively. To address this, she developed innovative teaching techniques that significantly improved her students’ grades. Inspired by these positive results, she decided to set up VirTutor Online. Which has been approved by the ministry of education in Ghana for students to use.
Building the platform was no small feat. It took Laura and her team two years to develop and launch it. Since its inception, VirTutor Online has supported over 650 students with the help of 35 active tutors.
When asked about the challenges faced by the platform, Laura highlighted issues such as students lacking access to digital devices and the high cost of data. Despite these obstacles, VirTutor Online offers more than 30 courses, ranging from local languages to GCE and A-level subjects.
The selection process for tutors on the platform is rigorous. Candidates go through an interview and must conduct a live teaching session with the board of directors. Once confirmed, tutors receive regular training to stay updated with current educational trends.
VirTutor Online features an interactive whiteboard that allows both students and tutors to upload visuals, making learning more engaging. Additionally, students enjoy using emojis to interact during sessions.
Laura chose to work with local developers to build the platform, believing that they have firsthand knowledge of the technological landscape in Ghana. For instance, she was advised to integrate mobile money into the platform to facilitate payments for students.
Regarding her views on Ghana’s education system, Laura believes that while the policies are in place, they are not effectively implemented. VirTutor Online is her contribution to bridging the gap and ensuring that students receive the quality education they deserve.
