Filipino firm hopes to make ICT learning fun for kids

By Erwin Oliva - INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines--Three-year-old Filipino firm TechFactors Inc. has developed "edutainment" software to make technology education interactive and fun for children.

Citing the lack of homegrown courseware, a group of academic experts and game developers from the University of the Philippines came together to form the company.

About 90,000 Filipino kids from 170 to 180 private schools nationwide use the company's courseware, Jimmy Caro, chief academic officer of TechFactors Inc., told INQUIRER.net in a telephone interview.

The company's edutainment software combines video games, laboratory simulation and other interactive exercises to make ICT education "fun and engaging," he said.

The company has developed courseware modules for pre-schoolers, elementary, and high school students.

"There's a need for schools to help kids prepare for college," he said, adding that the interactive courses also derive topics from mathematics, science, and English as examples to help kids learn technology, Caro added.

Every student is provided two books and a CD that contains a year's worth of ICT courseware. Teachers are also trained in the use of the courseware.

Asked how much the courseware package costs, Caro said, "It is cheaper than going to a popular fastfood [restaurant] in a month."

Local schools that have bought the homegrown courseware include the Philippine Cultural High School in Binondo, Ateneo de Davao, University of San Carlos, Don Bosco in Pampanga, and the National College of Business and Arts.

"We hope what were doing will have an impact on ICT education among the Filipino children," he said.

The Filipino software company is actively looking for venture capital to help them expand capacity and reach in the market.

"There's still room for growth because of the big demand from schools," Caro said.