29 June 2015
Education Sector Accounts for Over 10% of All Tablet Shipments to the Middle East, according to 2015 Study

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The region's leading mobile reseller, axiom, believes tablets are aiding students across all academic levels in the GCC, with institutional implementations increasing.

A study by the International Data Corporation (IDC), in association with Intel, conducted earlier this year, indicated a rise in the demand for tablets for educational purposes across the Middle East.

The use of mobile technology in education has been an imperative subject among industry leaders over recent years. Professionals in the education sector across the Middle East are increasingly recognizing that, while the traditional blackboards, notebooks, and textbooks may have been ideal in previous years, it is important for this generation to learn in ways that will help them with life after school.

"The latest technology is being deployed across all industries in the region making it crucial that students are familiar with technology from an early age," said Faisal Al Bannai, CEO of axiom. "Furthermore, with the incorporation of tablets in classrooms, students can have instant access to the latest news, statistics, and information on virtually everything at their fingertips."

The IDC study reported that all the institutions surveyed had the intention of increasing device utilization to 100% within 12-24 months with most institutions having adapted a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) approach. Other institutions provide devices that are pre-installed with relevant settings, apps and reading material in efforts to produce industry-ready graduates, in line with the regions vision of becoming an educational hub. 

The GCC has taken the lead in the region, with a number of technology-driven education initiatives, including the UAE's Smart Learning Initiative, launched in 2012, that aims to provide tablets to students at all K-12 government schools by the year 2017.

In fulfilling the Qatar National Vision 2030, the Supreme Education Council's e-Bag project in Qatar aims to provide tablets to every student and teacher in the country in the hope of producing more fun and rewarding learning experiences and reducing the weight of heavy school bags.

"Today's students are increasingly integrating the use of technology in many aspects of life, including in social and entertainment contexts. They are familiar with numerous devices and are more engaged when using them, making it a natural transition to use in education," Al Bannai said.

The use of tablets in classrooms has also facilitated the teaching process for educationalists in numerous ways. There are now thousands of apps and e-books exclusively developed for use in education, providing interactive and engaging learning techniques that can be used both within classroom settings and at home.

In addition to providing effective and efficient learning modules, the use of tablets in classrooms has also proven to help educators manage classrooms of varying cognitive levels more effectively. This is especially true for children with cognitive or behavioral challenges such as autism, dyslexia or vision impairment, with the availability of many apps accommodating specific special needs.

"The use of tablets in classrooms provides teachers with several methods of delivering information, including colorful imagery, video content, and bite-sized text, that will increase student engagement and retention levels," Al Bannai said. "One of the main concerns of educators in the Middle East is the misuse of the devices during school hours; however, this issue can be easily prevented by adjusting device settings in ways that best fit an institution's objectives."

With a number of education-specific tablets in the market, leading educational institutes in the region have shown eagerness to embrace the paradigm shift toward technology-driven education, taking the school learning experience outside classroom walls.

About axiom
Axiom was established in 1997 by Faisal Al Bannai and is today the leading multi-brand, multi-channel distributor and retailer of mobile telecommunications devices, accessories and telecom services in the Middle East.

Axiom's distribution network provides multiple points of access to the end consumer through three principal routes: the retail channel, through a variety of brands and store formats; a micro-distribution channel, for independent stores; and a macro-distribution channel serving wholesalers for domestic and international sales. Axiom has more than 2,500 employees and operates over 600 retail points and reaches over 4,000 points of sale across the Middle East. The Group also has strategic interests in associated companies operating in India and South Africa.

The axiom promise is a commitment to excellent customer service and continuous innovation to ensure customers receive the best ongoing support and advice on a wide range of telecommunications products and services, including:

  • Pick up, repair and delivery

  • 60 Second Data Transfer

  • Express Repair Service

  • Regional warranty

  • Trade In

  • Price Protection Guarantee

  • Expert Salespeople

  • Stand-By Phone During Repairs

For detailed information, visit www.axiomtelecom.com

Follow Axiom on Twitter: twitter.com/axiom_UAE or twitter.com/axiom_KSA

Follow Axiom on Facebook: facebook.com/axiomUAE or facebook.com/axiomKSA

Media contact

Manal Ismail, Wallis Marketing Consultants, +971 4 390 0387, axiom@wallis-mc.com

Feras Hamzah, Wallis Marketing Consultants, +971 50 7984784, axiom@wallis-mc.com

© Press Release 2015