Durrant Pate/Contributor

Profitability at One on One Educational Services has been boosted with the expansion of its One Academy, which provides personalised solutions for schools, teachers and students.

The digital teaching company has come out of the red with net profit for the half-year ended February 2025 reaching J$18.4 million, representing a strong turnaround from the J$41.4 million net loss over the comparative period in 2024.

The February quarter closed with a net profit of J$7.2 million, a significant improvement compared to the net loss of J$19.9 million a year ago.

Chairman Michael Bernard reports that during the quarter, the company “remained focused on strengthening its One Academy suite of product offerings. This included the continued live streaming of lessons into high schools in Jamaica. Furthermore, the company leveraged its personalised solutions by developing a testing mechanism that allows schools to assess student performance effectively.”

Beefing up capacity

This solution empowers schools with comprehensive student assessments, enabling the creation of targeted intervention strategies to improve learning outcomes. In addition, investments continued in enhancing software architecture, particularly the further development of the integrated education management information system (EMIS) and learning management system (LMS). 

These strategic initiatives reinforce the company’s commitment to advancing education delivery through technology, fostering impactful and accessible learning solutions. The positive financial results reflect the company’s commitment to financial sustainability and operational efficiency while positioning itself for continued expansion and long-term success. 

For the second quarter of 2025, revenue reached J$78.0 million, reflecting a 37.6 per cent increase over the same period in the prior year. This growth was attributed to the expansion of One Academy and its ability to deliver personalised solutions through advanced technology, enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of digital education. 

Direct costs for the second quarter amounted to J$22.5 million, an increase of J$4.5 million compared to the previous year.

Big uptick in expenses

Direct costs for the half-year saw a 45.3 per cent uptick due to one-off investments in hosting infrastructure services and the installation of equipment and accessories to facilitate One Academy’s implementation of live classes. While these expenses have contributed to short-term cost increases, they are a strategic investment aimed at driving long-term value creation. 

Administrative and selling expenses declined by J$24.2 million, or 21.5 per cent, over the six-month period, while the second quarter recorded a 19 per cent contraction over the comparable 2024 quarter, reflecting the benefits of cost-cutting initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiencies and financial discipline. 

Total assets grew to J$662.6 million at the end of the six-month period, an 8.2 per cent cent increase from J$612.3 million in the prior year. This growth was primarily driven by investments in non-current assets, particularly the development of intangible assets. 

Total equity also strengthened, rising to J$423.4 million from J$362.6 million, supported by the company’s improved financial performance.