African edtech platform AltSchool Africa has announced the launch of a Nano-Diploma to give learners more control over their learning pace.
The new diploma was inspired by recent complaints from students who pointed out that the platform was not delivering on the flexibility it promised.
Co-founder and CEO, Adewale Yusuf, announced the new diploma on Tuesday, September 24, 2025, at the company’s office in Lagos, Nigeria.
Yusuf explained that while AltSchool’s original 12-month diploma programmes required learners to commit up to 20 hours weekly, many students, especially working professionals, found the schedule too rigorous.
“We heard the feedback, and we had to adapt,” he said. “The Nano-Diploma gives learners the chance to study at their own pace without losing the quality of education we promised.”
The feedback started with an X post by a learner who complained that AltSchool was no different from a typical university, making it hard for learners with full-time jobs. Another user said it was not beginner-friendly and did not take into consideration internet and electricity challenges.
Addressing the posts, Yusuf admitted that the school had become less flexible as it sought accreditations in more locations, such as the US. He, however, said there had been a rethink and that every student’s feedback was now being addressed.
AltSchool Africa’s Head of Innovation and New Markets, Rachael Onoja, also said that the company reviewed its grading system and the entire AltSchool structure to figure out what could be improved based on feedback from students.
“The demography of students we serve has evolved over time. This has allowed us to see that our diploma is not for everybody.”
Onoja, who now leads the learning team at AltSchool Africa, said the Nano-Diploma maintains the quality of a full diploma while offering greater accessibility and flexibility. The diploma allows career professionals to apply their learning to their jobs even before completing the programme.
“You could be a customer service agent today, applying skills from the Nano-Diploma daily. And by the time you are done, you can already see results.”
She added that the employability element in the full diploma is also available in the Nano-Diploma.
With the new diploma priced at just ₦45,000 ($30.21), offering flexibility and employability, it risks cannibalising the existing diploma, which is priced at $290.
Interestingly, Onoja said the company is aware of this possibility but pointed out that people are still purchasing full diplomas, with some even opting for both.
“Different people have different experiences. What we are doing is improving our onboarding process so we can identify the kind of users who come for Nano-Diplomas and those who choose full diplomas, and recommend programmes for them based on the data we get from them.”
To increase flexibility, Emmanuel Ogunsola, Head of Product and Engineering at AltSchool, said the Nano-Diploma will have a much lower barrier to entry compared to the diploma programme.
“With a browser on any device, you can go to our portal and start learning within less than five minutes.”
The Nano-Diploma is the second learning product AltSchool has announced this year. In March, it revealed plans to launch an in-person learning product, Campus by AltSchool, in Q2 2025, but the pilot phase has yet to start.
Interestingly, this is not the first time AltSchool has mentioned the Nano-Diploma. It already introduced it to learners, but decided to do a full roll-out after feedback on X.
Like its diploma, AltSchool plans to collaborate with organisations to offer scholarships that will help offset the cost of the Nano-Diploma, ensuring inclusion for learners who may not be able to afford it. The programme will also be available in Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa to expand access to a wider audience.
The goal, Yusuf said, is to reach learners across Africa, not just those in urban centres like Lagos. The edtech has also teased some AI features coming to its platforms to aid the learning process for students.
