The department has cleared that schools identified for the first phase would receive ICT connectivity only after the schools submit their comprehensive report on specification, digitized contents and alternative energy supply.
The readiness report sent by schools will be matched with the checklist of the DEO before allocating amounts to the schools, stated DoE Director General Lava Dev Awasthi. "The schools´ readiness needs to be cross-checked as the plan carries huge amount."
In government´s Rs 1 billion worth plan to increase access of public school students to internet, the DoE aims to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural schools that has been creating another barrier among students. While most of the community school students´ performance is still poor in English subject, digital divide is an additional challenge for those who are chasing their dream to hold good positions in government and non-government sector.
For the 100 percent ICT coverage in all 8,711 secondary schools, from the current 1571, the Ministry of Finance has allocated Rs 1 billion to the Ministry of Education (MoE) under a separate category. The education ministry has received Rs 80 billion for the running fiscal year.
According to Balram Timilsina, deputy director of the Department of Education (DoE), the office would provide budgets to DEOs, whereas the school administration itself has to purchase five computers, one printer and manage internet access.
The Educational Manpower Development Centre would manage the skilled teachers to conduct interactive ICT classes, he added. Apart from just showing students what is mouse and CPU, the new courses include project works that cannot be accomplished without ICT access, Timilsina mentioned.
For the same, the schools have to produce their document on previous knowledge and skill in using the technology along with the name of subject teacher. The schools also have to submit the name of the teacher who would receive further ICT training from government.
As the Prioritize Minimum Education Condition (PMEC) report last year revealed that only 2,000 schools have computers, the MoF allocated the huge amount to ensure the technology in additional 7,140 secondary schools for this fiscal year. However, still 19,860 of the total 34,782 schools will lack computer facility.
To bridge the gap between the urban IT generations and the students in rural areas, the MoE is implementing a five-year ICT master plan from 2013 to 2017.
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Quelle/Source: Republica, 04.01.2014
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