We make simple educational software
Our core business is educational software. We create simple solutions to meet the common needs of teachers and children in South Africa. Quality, reliability and usefulness is what drives us to create excellent software that really works. |
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We make products for schools and individuals
We create different educational software to meet the needs of entire schools, individual teachers, and individual learners. Our products help schools run more efficiently, help teachers save time, and help learners achieve better results. |
Doing education differently
We believe that simple is better, and less is more.
To convey one of the most striking elements of our company’s culture, that the people of EvaluNet believe passionately in education, we’ve introduced the concept of “doing education differently”. This concept is intended to make our company recognizable, to give it a human dimension, and more importantly, to bring it to life.
A simple mission – We want to contribute to South Africa in a meaningful way.
Meet our executive team
Dereck Marnewick
Dereck started EvaluNet in 1995 after seeing a major gap in the market for top-notch, South African-based educational software. He studied a BSc at the University of Cape Town and taught science for over 20 years. He is an amicable chap with a love for photography, dogs and sushi. He currently serves on the committee of ADESSA.
Jenny Marnewick
Jenny gives new meaning to the phrase “organisational skills”. Like Dereck (her husband) she loves dogs and sushi, as well as the finer things in life, like ice cream. She heads up our marketing and sales department and couldn’t imagine working anywhere else except at EvaluNet.
Essie Warneke
Essie has been with EvaluNet since the very beginning in 1995. As one of our longest serving, but youngest at heart, employees, she has become part of the furniture. Handling all administrative and financial tasks with militaristic precision, she has a long history in the banking and finance industry.
Paisley Downing
Paisley, the 1998 Old Mutual & Afrikaanse Handelsinstuut “Junior Businessman of the Year” winner, has a long history in finance and accounting after studying a BEcon at the University of Stellenbosch and Hons BCompt at Unisa. Paisley oversees our finances and has a love for golf second to none. Good thing that our office is located next to the Parow Golf Course.
Adrian Marnewick
Adrian is the brains behind the critical and often (self-proclaimed) “humorously funny” editorials in all of EvaluNet’s monthly newsletters. He did a 3-month, crash course BEd, then realised that business was more his thing and proceeded to study Business Management through the University of Stellenbosch and the Louis Group Business Academy. He is as passionate about education as a baker is about chocolate brownies. |
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Our major milestones
 1994
South Africa holds it’s first free and fair elections. The ANC is elected to power and Nelson Mandela liberates the country from years of apartheid.
1995
Dereck Marnewick founds Interactive Learning Solutions as an educational software development company.
1996
e-SCHOOL, a unique assessment and revision tool is released. Woodridge College in Thornhill become the first e-SCHOOL user.
 1997
23 top South African schools are using e-SCHOOL. Our second product, e-TUTOR, the home version for learners is released and sold in CNA and Incredible Connections stores throughout the country.
1998
Interactive Learning Solutions is commissioned to build the original online MWeb Learning site for children.
 1999
The company changes name to EvaluNet. Naspers invests a 49% stake in EvaluNet. e-TUTOR changes name to GetAhead.
2001
MathPRO, a unique maths learning programme for learners is released. Now over 300 schools are using EvaluNet software.
 2002
Dereck Marnewick buys back the 49% stake from Naspers.
2003
EvaluNet becomes one of the five founding members of Associated Distributors of Educational Supplies in Southern Africa (ADESSA) – a body commissioned by the National Department of Education.
 2004
The first GetAhead online shop is launched, making EvaluNet the first South African educational software developer to sell products online.
2007
EvaluNet begins work on the replacement product for e-SCHOOL which will be called XT. We also launch our Community Development website which brings in over 200 applications for funding within a few months.
 2008
XT launches with resounding success. Within 2 years, over 200 schools across the country will be using XT for assessments and revision.
2010
The GetAhead School Project is unveiled to 80 school principals at an exclusive launch event in Cape Town. Over 500 schools now use EvaluNet software and over 40,000 learners have used GetAhead at home. |
Our Vision
“I once had a dream. Years ago while sitting at an open air Easter Concert at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, I imagined what it would feel like to be making a significant difference to the lives of all the hundreds of kids that were at the concert. I also hoped that the efforts of all involved at EvaluNet would make a real and positive contribution to the upliftment of teacher morale in South Africa. Now many years later, we at EvaluNet can look back with pride and look forward with great expectation as thousands of, and thousands more teachers and learners lives will be changed because of our vision!”
Dereck Marnewick, EvaluNet Managing Director.
Our dream is to touch the lives of each and every South African teacher and child. We will not stop until we’ve achieved this.
Community Development
We believe that education is a right, not a privilege. We’ve given back over a million rand in sponsorships and donations to the community and we continuously strive to help build better, sustainable relationships within South African society.
We’re involved in many social responsibility programmes including …
- Namaqualand Diamond Fund Trust
- Central Energy Fund
- NEPAD E-Schools Initiative
- Umjindi Resource Centre
- CATCH Project
- Ethelbert Children’s Home via CHEP
- Melkbos Children’s Care Centre
- Cacadu District Municipality
To find out more about our Community Development initiatives, visit our Community Development website. |
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Teacher’s Monthly
We are the creators of the Teacher’s Monthly website and magazine. It’s a free site for teachers to find all the latest education-related news, articles, opinions and resources. Go to Teacher’s Monthly.
Rock Your Classroom
Rock Your Classroom (RYC) was our idea inspired by an article written on Teacher’s Monthly about the poor state of classrooms in South Africa. RYC is a free site where teachers can download printable posters for their classroom walls. Ranging from outrageously funny to thought-provokingly serious, RYC posters are becoming a common site in classrooms around the country.
Careers at EvaluNet
At EvaluNet we eat, breathe and live education. But we’re a lot more than ‘wannabe teachers’. We employ a wide variety of skilled professionals including programmers, graphics designers, content developers and strategists who all work together to produce and develop South Africa’s top selling educational software and services. Start your career with us. |
