1 lakh govt schools to go 'smart'

NEW DELHI: In a bid to further improve information communication technology (ICT) in schools, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Saturday approved the revised scheme on ICT that will benefit 1.5 crore students in 1.08 lakh secondary and senior secondary schools.

“The revised scheme on ICT will cover about 1.08 lakh government, government aided secondary and higher secondary schools and would help to bridge the digital divide,” HRD minister Kapil Sibal said after the meeting. Sibal said the revised scheme, involving a cost of Rs 6,929 crore, would enable teachers and students to get acquainted with the ICT system.

The Centre would provide 75% share while the states, other than the north-eastern states, will bear 25%. The schools would be provided the required computer hardware, software and e-content for the purpose. Dependable power supply and internet connectivity, preferably broadband, would be provided to the schools.

The government has been running the ICT scheme since 2005-06. Under this scheme, nearly 53,000 schools have been included. The revised scheme envisages to cover an additional 58,000 schools.

The revised scheme aims at capacity building of more than 10 lakh teachers in using ICT-based tools for teaching through induction and refresher training. Development and dissemination of e-content in regional languages to enhance the comprehension levels of children in various subjects is another component of the scheme. A scheme of rewards for teachers and schools for encouraging use of ICT in the teaching learning process will also be instituted, Sibal said.

The estimated expenditure of the scheme is Rs 6,926.13 crore for the 11th Plan. The expenditure by the Centre would be restricted to the Plan allocation of Rs 6,000 crore for the scheme. The funding for north-eastern states would be in the pattern of 90:10. The recurring cost will be provided for a period of five years from the year of sanction.

The use of ICT in schools would improve the quality of teaching learning, school administration and information management system. Sibal said priority would be given to educationally backward blocks and areas with special attention on SC, ST, minority and weaker sections and the disabled.

SOURCE:TOI