Aksorn aims to lift learning standards

Aksorn aims to lift learning standards

Textbook publisher eyes digital expansion

Textbook publisher Aksorn Education Co has developed an e-learning platform to help strengthen the country's education system.

Chief executive Tawan Theva-aksorn said the company's latest e-learning innovation, Aksorn Learning Ecosystem, has been developed under a student-centric approach to broaden Thai students' knowledge and serve the government's education reform.

Aksorn chief executive Tawan intends to raise the standard of Thai education.

In the first stage, students can read some textbooks and other educational material on digital devices such as tablets.

After that, accessibility will increase and teachers and students will be allowed to download more textbooks and school materials produced by Aksorn Education on their own.

"We developed our e-learning system because we recognise that digital media play a key role in changing consumer behaviour, particularly among young people. Regular textbooks alone may not be enough to keep students' attention," he said.

Mr Tawan said combining digital media and textbooks and paper-based educational materials was the best way to maximise efficiency for both students and teachers.

The company began publishing textbooks in 1935 under the name Aksorn Charoentat and is now one of the biggest textbook producers in Thailand.

Aksorn Education has also launched Twig World, an online educational resource from Britain, which features an astronomy documentary with a simple message and presentation. Students can download it to learn about astronomy.

It also plans to invest more on e-learning and a programme to help teachers make efficient lesson plans and form a nationwide teaching network. All these plans are aimed at developing the company's sustainable growth in the next three years.

Aksorn Education has filed its listing proposal with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a bid to raise funds for its expansion, especially educational innovations. It has two subsidiaries, Aksorn Inspire and Aksorn Charoentat.

Finansia Syrus Securities is its financial adviser.

"We want to be part of society to help raise educational standards in the country. Education is lifelong learning," Mr Tawan said.

Thailand's 100-billion-baht education business has a bright future, growing sharply each year thanks to the rising number of international schools, language institutes and private universities. Demand for foreign language study is driven by the arrival of the Asean Economic Community late this year.

However, the government allocates only 3.8% of GDP for education, while most developed countries allocate 6% for educational development.

Aksorn Education plans to grow its revenue by 10% this year from 2.5 billion baht last year. About 75% will be contributed by textbooks under the government's annual budget for schools and libraries.

The company expects its digital media business to contribute about half the total revenue in the next five years.

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