Computers in just 14 pc of 1.3 million schools

Draft ICT-enabled education policy, create ICT-trained teachers' cadre says NUEPA

SAMIR SACHDEVA | February 20, 2010



Only fourteen percent of 1.3 million schools have computers while 86% of these schools have electricity,  Arun Mehta, professor at the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) stated here on Friday.

“We have no statistics on how many of these computers work,” Mehta said.

“In cities like Delhi, Chandigarh  nine out of 10 schools have computers. But in states like Bihar not even one percent of the schools have computers,” he added, "some schools with 50 students have one computer, while some with 300 have just the same. How can this be called providing computer-education at schools?"

Joint secretary at the department of information technology Shankar Agarwal said that the quality of education in schools needed to improve before ICT-enanbled education takes off.

While the infrastructure and quality of education at government is far from satisfactory, finding qualified instructors for ICT-enabled education is proving to be as much of an headache, Mehta pointed out.

“Computers are being used to play games. There's almost zero connectivity and the instructors themselves are quite poorly trained.A separate cadre of teachers for ICT education as well as a comprehensive policy for ICT-based education” he said.

Comments

 

Other News

V. M. Tarkunde: A legal luminary par excellence

14 Lawyers: Portraits from The Bar By Raju Ramachandran  Juggernaut, 248 pages, Rs. 799  

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation.   During

Lived life, philosophy, spirituality and other enigmas

The Ashes Are Warm: Memories of a Lifetime Spent with UG Krishnamurti By Mahesh Bhatt and Sunita Pant Bansal Rupa Publications, 384 pages, Rs 495  

In Varanasi, fringe expansion vs. core heritage

For centuries, the urban framework of Varanasi was defined not just by its relationship with the sacred Ganga but by its multifaceted network of urban commons. Historic kunds, seasonal talabs (ponds), and open maidans served as the city’s basic ecological infrastructure. Th

What ails India`s skill development ecosystem

India’s skill development programmes were designed with a goal to make the young population ready with market-required skills and competencies, and to provide them with better employment opportunities. Yet the outcomes have fallen short of that goal: though over 1.6 crore individuals were trained acr





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter