Tata Ind to invest Rs 100-cr in TIS'' new learning solns biz

Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) Tata Industries Limited (TIL) plansto invest Rs 100-crore in integrated learning solutionschristened CLASSEDGE for the Indian school education sector.

Launched by the Group''s e-learning venture, TataInteractive Services (TIS) today, the company expects it to bea profitable business in three-years.

"The initial investment (in the new venture) will be Rs100-crore and we expect to sign-up 1,000 schools across 100cities in the first year," Tata Industries Limited''s ManagingDirector, Kishor Chaukar, told reporters here after thelaunch.

CLASSEDGE is an innovative and comprehensive educationalsolution, designed to help teachers deliver high qualityinstruction, with an effective blend of classroom activitiesand interactive multimedia demonstrations.

It aims to enhance students'' social and thinking skillsalong with ensuring a thorough understanding of the curriculumcontent.

TIS plans to increase its current headcount of 200employees in its school division to 600 by the end of thisyear, TIS Chief Executive Officer, Sanjaya Sharma, said.

TIS has been developing interactive and media-richlearning solutions for reputed educational publishers andinstitutions across the US, UK, Europe and the Middle-East.

"Through CLASSEDGE, we intend to reach out to schools,educational counselors and parents to address the gaps in thecurrent educational practices," Sharma said.

The Indian school market is growing at 60 per cent,Sharma said, adding the company is open to tying-up withGovernment schools but only in the second phase.