African Storybook vs Siyavula

African Storybook develops and publishes picture storybooks in African languages to support children’s literacy, enjoyment and imagination. Its stories and tools are intended for children aged two to ten, including early childhood and the first three years of primary school. The free Reader app lets parents and children access books offline. With the free Maker app, people can create storybooks offline on a phone or tablet, then publish them to the website once connected. Website tools also support creating, translating and adapting picture books, and readers can download titles for offline reading or print them. Stories may be read, copied, adapted and translated without payment or permission, subject to attribution and any non-commercial restriction attached to a particular story. Creating, adapting or translating requires registration; users must be at least 18 or have parent or guardian permission. The site distinguishes ASb-approved stories from those made on the website or in the Maker app that have not been checked. It also offers video and written guidance on using and developing picture storybooks. The initiative is free, with Android, iOS and web access.

Siyavula is a web-based learning platform for Mathematics and Physical Sciences practice, educator tools, and free textbooks. Learners can work through unlimited question versions, receive instant marking and full solutions, and follow their progress on a personal dashboard. Questions become harder as learners master concepts. Practice covers Mathematics in Grades 8–12 and Physical Sciences in Grades 10–12, aligned with South Africa’s CAPS curriculum, and works on any internet-enabled device. Educators can search questions by subject, grade, topic, and difficulty, then assign automatically marked homework and assessments. Reports let teachers review activity and progress at individual, class, and school levels. Textbooks for several subjects across Grades 4–12 are free to read and download; users may copy, share, or modify them. Siyavula says the site is zero-rated on MTN and Cell C networks in South Africa. Learner access and verified-teacher access are free. Essentials costs $2,050 a year per teacher and subject, excluding VAT; Advanced costs $6,199 a year per teacher and subject, excluding VAT.