The Hindu Business Line : Me'TM's Arabic software to be used in UAE schools

EVEN as Indian schools contemplate about incorporating technology in their teaching method, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government has managed to strike a deal with an Indian company - Merchant e'Technology Mission (Me'TM) for introducing the Arabic version of Me'TM's proprietary product - Eduplus, in the Government schools in that region.

The UAE-based Highland Group of Companies has signed up on behalf of that Government with Me'TM for introducing and implementing the Arabic version of Eduplus.

"Work has already commenced. We are expecting to implement the first phase by August 2004," Dr N.R. Harikumar, Managing Director, Me'TM told Business Line.

As per the agreement, Eduplus - Arabic software is to be offered either for outright purchase with annual maintenance, installation and upgradation charges or on annual lease for each school with a fixed lease amount (inclusive of all charges).

The software is to be implemented in 15 schools in the initial phase, but Dr Harikumar is confident of popularising the tool in at least 50 per cent of the 185-odd schools in UAE and Bahrain.

"We are expecting to reach out to over 80 schools before the end of the current year," he said and added that for the Arabic version, the voice over was being made at Dubai.

"The curriculum is more or less the same. Apart from incorporating a few changes in the 3-D animation and the voice over in Arabic, the kit is ready for launch," he said.

To a query on why the company chose to lease the product instead of completing a sale, Dr Harikumar contended that the product would have to be updated to incorporate any change in the syllabus and therefore could not be sold.

The Me'TM MD recalled the team effort of over 600 persons, who slogged for 9 years to roll out this product in different versions - English, Hindi, Tamil and French. The Arabic version is to be released within the next couple of months.

The product, he said, was widely accepted by the teaching community in New Zealand. "Sri Lankan and Mauritius school authorities have approached us for introducing Eduplus in select schools in these countries."

The computer aided teaching kit, according to the developers of this innovative tool, is cost effective and user-friendly. "It works out to half-a-rupee per student per day," Dr Harikumar said.

User institutions are very comfortable with the product. The company meanwhile is looking at taking the product to the home.

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