ScholarlyTT – from free online lessons to growing online bookstore

Ethan Mohammed and Ameer Singh, both university students and long-time friends, have proven themselves personally invested in an educated generation.

Two years ago, Mohammed, 22, and Singh, 20, launched ScholarlyTT, an organisation that has provided thousands of secondary school students with online classes, free of charge, on their social media pages. Many students have also benefited from devices donated through their fundraising ventures.

Fast forward to June, while pursuing their degrees, the pair launched an online platform, scholarlytt.com, allowing parents and students to purchase and sell new and used textbooks.

“Buying schoolbooks is an expensive, time-consuming exercise,” Mohammed told Newsday. “(We wanted) to provide a service where parents and students can buy books in multiple conditions, and also have the opportunity to sell their used books easily and securely, scholarlytt.com was designed to be a one-stop shop for school supplies.”

Mohammed said the online bookstore, which has a collection office in Marabella, was created to increase access to primary and secondary school textbooks across both islands at more affordable rates. The cost to cover an entire booklist from a typical bookstore can often exceed $1,500 per student across forms.

More importantly, Mohammed said the larger goal was to give the buyer and seller peace of mind knowing the transaction will take place at a secure location.

“It’s kind of a quasi system; buy some of your books new, some of your books used, all in one safe environment. You don’t have to go on Facebook Marketplace and meet up with people, and you know exactly what condition you’re getting the book in beforehand as well.”

The website went live on June 18 and the first transaction was made shortly after.

“Since the first sale, we have seen great support for our online bookstore. Many parents and students have listed their books for sale on our website,” Mohammed said. “Furthermore, we have been able to fulfil orders for customers nationwide.”

Mohammed, a former Hillview College student, and Singh, who attended Maple Leaf International School, met as early teens and have been friends ever since.

Mohammed is pursuing a degree in software engineering at the University of Miami, while Singh is studying for a degree in finance at Broward College.

Despite their ages, both Mohammed and Singh have already made considerable selfless contributions to education.

Among many other initiatives, the duo, shared their knowledge on Facebook with scores of students from forms one to six, studying for various exams, including CSEC and CAPE. They have since uploaded over 100 video lessons, as well as instructions on the processes of applying for certain exams.

The lessons were conducted by a team of “high-performing secondary school graduates,” Mohammed said.

“Many were scholarship winners, or even placed on the merit list.”

They also created a Scholarly TT Fund to help students in need, nationwide.

“The money raised from our class sponsors were used to give back to the student community, in the form of book grants, printers, and tablets,” he said.

Broadly speaking, Mohammed said parents and students can save up to 45 per cent on their book lists, “while also having a safe, reliable means to sell their used books.”

They also created and sold T-shirts to contribute to the fund. In total, the fund was able to provide over $20,000 in assistance to students.

Being young, technical, and trendy, they included a feature on the T-shirt, a QR (quick response) code on the back, which when scanned would direct the user to ScholarlyTT’s Facebook page.

The new bookstore is an extension of the organisation's efforts to promote the accessibility of quality education nationwide.

The website is particularly simple to navigate and complete transactions.

The seller must carry the book to the office at 169 Southern Main Road, San Fernando, open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4.30 pm. It is carefully inspected before being added to the website’s inventory. Used books are categorised by two conditions – “like new” and “fair” – from which the prices are determined.

Books are sorted under the particular school, but users can also use the search function to find a particular book quickly.

While the school curricula currently being catered for are limited, Mohammed said the company does plan on adding more in the future based on the availability of the book lists.

Unlisted books may also be sold, however, but must first be approved by ScholarlyTT.

Buyers have the option of collecting the book at the office or having it delivered. Both the buyer and seller must register on the website. Sellers are required to include their bank account details for payments to be credited to their account.

ScholarlyTT.com currently accepts cash and bank deposits only and either payment must be made within two business days of placing an order.