Tata Interactive to digitise 1,000 schools by year-end

Tata Interactive Systems has said it will digitise 1,000 schools spanning 140 cities by deploying its classroom solution 'Classedge' by the end of the current academic year.

The city-based Tata Group firm has already deployed the Classedge classroom solution in 100 schools across 52 cities, which are affiliated to various boards like the CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE and state boards.

"Initially, we are planning to cover private sector schools. We intend to target 1,000 schools in over 140 cities by the end of this academic year," Tata Interactive Systems Chief Executive Sanjay Sharma said.

The Classedge solution typically provides schools an Internet connection, a personal computer, a digital projector as well as regularly supply updated proprietary content, based on the syllabus through a cloud computing model.

The initiative is designed to enable what it calls a 'multiple learning experiences model', besides empowering teachers with a lesson plan approach, Sharma said.

"By this September, we intend to cover the entire country. From next year onwards, we intend to have content for 11th and 12th standards too. Once we have covered the private sector schools, we will look at government schools," Sharma added.

Towards achieving this goal, the company plans to hire more people.

"Our aim is to increase our employee base in the school division from 250 to 600, which would also include 200 business development managers in these targeted 140 cities," he said.

On the cost structure, Sharma said it charges Rs 8,000 per classroom a month to provide the digital solution.