4 local apps making school admin, transport and finance easier for parents and teachers

16 May 2018

So much of parenting involves administrative responsibilities that we should hardly be surprised that most of us end up completely exhausted by the end of the day.

And that's before the little ones even enter the school gates.

And once the school-going journey kicks off, all bets are off and life then becomes a careful juggling act: upcoming school events, fees, and teacher-parent meetings, not to mention worrying about how your child is doing academically.

That's why these apps are so genius.

Here are three incredibly useful school apps you should know about if admin and finance give you the heebie-jeebies.

Also see: Unhappy with your child’s grades last term? There's an app for that

TAPTUCK

School admin apps for parents in South Africa

Say goodbye to the big hunt for cash to give your child tuckshop money with the TAPTUCK app. The smart tech allows you to load funds into a TAPTUCK wallet which can then be used to pre-order and pre-pay for items at your child's school tuck shop.

It's great because you get to pre-order healthier meal options for your children instead of hoping they don't spend everything on sweets, the tuck shop vendor can plan ahead, and the system eliminates the need for your kids to carry cash.

Take a look at the video below to see how it works:

TAPTUCK app is currently only available at selected schools like Virginia Preparatory School, Northlands Primary School, and Danville Senior in KwaZulu-Natal, but will soon be available nationally.

Download: Google Play and Apple.

Visit www.taptuck.co.za to find out more.

Also see: Great coding apps for kids

#MySafeKidz

#MySafeKidz app and web portal

Have you ever needed to call your child’s school because their school bus didn’t arrive on time? Well, what if you could track your child’s bus route on your phone just like you would an Uber ride? The #MySafeKidz app by Tracker does just that, giving parents the peace of mind knowing exactly where their child is and when they’ll arrive.

Schools who have signed on for the service will have their buses fitted with a tracking device, and once downloaded to their phone, the app gives parents access to a web portal which will allow them to monitor where their child’s school bus is at all times.

The technology is currently being used by 27 South African schools.

Download: Google Play and Apple.

Find out more by visiting www.tracker.co.za.

Karri

School admin apps for parents in South Africa

Civvies days, cake sales, school photos and class outings are just a few of the school events that require you to send money in an envelope. A new app alerts you to the new event and also allows you to make a payment.

It's another cool cashless tech app that makes paying a breeze, and it's pretty simple to use.

Your school will send you your child's unique Karri ID, which you use to register on the app, and you'll preload your credit card details. Every time the school creates an event using the Karri app system, you'll receive a notification on your smartphone.

All you need to do is log in and press pay. The teacher gets notified and all is well in the world, while other parents who haven't yet paid will receive notifications. No more lengthy Whatsapp group convos!

This is how easy Karri is to use:

In addition to a host of other schools, Karri is currently used by Rhenish Primary School in Cape Town, Bryneven Primary School in Johannesburg, and Laerskool Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town.

Download: Google Play and Apple.

For more details visit www.karri.co.za

Also see: Best reading apps and programmes for children

The Engage School App

School admin apps for parents in South Africa

How many times have you forgotten about an upcoming school meeting, wondered about outstanding school fees, or even how to get in touch with a teacher?

The Engage School App is the perfect go-between yourself and your child's school, keeping you informed about every aspect of parent-school admin.

The app provides you with access to lesson timetables, your child's school attendance record, upcoming school events and meetings.

The Bishop Bavin School and Kingsmead College in Johannesburg, as well as St Cyprian's School in Cape Town, are just a few schools currently signed up with the Engage School App.

Download: Google Play and Apple.

Find out more by visiting www.engagesmis.co.za.

What technology has made your life simpler when it comes to keeping up with your child's school administrative and financial responsibilities? Tell us by emailing to chatback@parent24.com and we could publish your advice.

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