Information and Communication Technology in Schools (ICT @ Schools)
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme
“Information and Communication Technology [ICT] in School” was launched
in December 2004, to provide opportunities to secondary stage students
to develop ICT skills and also for ICT aided learning process.
The Scheme is a major catalyst to bridge the digital divide amongst
students of various socio economic and other geographical barriers. The
Scheme provides support to States/UTs to establish computer labs on a
sustainable basis. It also aims to set up SMART schools in Kendriya
Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas to act as “Technology
Demonstrators” and to lead in propagating ICT skills among students of
neighbourhood schools.
The Scheme currently is being
implemented in both Government and Government aided secondary and
higher Schools. Support is provided for procurement of computers and
peripherals, educational software, training of teachers and internet
connectivity etc. The financial assistance is given to States and
other institutions on the basis of the approvals accorded by Project
Monitoring and Evaluation Group (PM&EG) headed by Secretary of the
Department of School Education and Literacy.
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Information & Communication Technology (ICT) is universally
acknowledged as an important catalyst for social transformation and
national progress. However, disparities in the levels of ICT readiness
and use could translate into disparities in level of productivities and
hence could influence a country’s rate of economic growth.
Understanding and leveraging ICT is therefore critical for countries
striving for continued social and economic progress.
India shows enormous geographic and demographic disparity in ICT
use. India has one of the largest ICT workforces in the world. One can
find intense ICT use in technology clusters such as Bangalore and
Gurgaon or amongst the upper middle brackets of incomes. The other side
of the story is that large parts of the country lack even telephone
connectivity.
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constituted by the Prime Minister – in July, 1998 has made specific
recommendations on introduction of I.T. in the education sector
including schools. The relevant paragraphs are reproduced below:
Vidyarthi Computer Scheme, Shikshak Computer Scheme and School
Computer Scheme to enable students, teachers or schools respectively,
desirous of buying computers to do so under attractive financial
packages. These schemes will be supported by a suite of initiatives
such as lowering the cost of PCs, easy installment bank loans, computer
donations by IT companies and other business houses, bulk donations of
computers by NRI organizations, large-volume bargain
price imports, multi-lateral funding, etc.
Computers and Internet shall be made accessible to schools,
polytechnics, colleges, and public hospitals in the country by the year
2003.
The concept of SMART Schools where the emphasis is not only on
Information Technology in Schools, but also on the use of skills and
values that will be 3 important in the next millennium, shall be
started on a pilot demonstrative basis in each State. The objective as
follows
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- To establish an enabling environment to promote the usage of ICT
especially in Higher Secondary and Secondary Government Schools in
rural areas. Critical factors of such an enabling environment include
widespread availability of access devices, connectivity to the Internet
and promotion of ICT literacy.
- To ensure the availability of quality content on-line and through
access devices both in the private sector and by SIETs.
- Enrichment of existing curriculum and pedagogy by employing ICT
tools for teaching and learning.
- To enable students to acquire skills needed for the Digital world
for higher studies and gainful employment.
- To provide an effective learning environment for children with
special needs through ICT tools.
- Promote critical thinking and analytical skills by developing
self-learning. This shall transform the classroom environment from
teacher-centric to student-centric learning.
- To promote the use of ICT tools in distance education including the
employment of audio-visual medium and satellite-based devices.
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For complete Scheme Details, click here
ICT use in Education
