The Hindu Business Line : Here's the key

IT is a scheme that spells hope for computer-based education and training in government-run and government-aided schools in Orissa. It is also a well-planned attempt to standardise educational content and its delivery mechanism.

The Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC), an agency of the Government of Orissa, is implementing a scheme that seeks to provide computer-based training in 400 high schools in 30 districts across the State. The project entails an investment of Rs 12.90 crore that has been provided as grant by the 11th Finance Commission.

Each of these schools will be equipped with a computer laboratory with four computers and peripherals. Two teachers each from the selected schools will be trained in computer skills and they, in turn, will provide the necessary training to students as well as other teachers. Training for the teachers has already begun and students in the 400 schools will be brought under the purview of the scheme by October this year.

Students from Class VI and up to Class X will be provided with computer-based training in subjects such as science, mathematics and computer science to begin with. Inputs for the curriculum have been provided by the state's Board of Secondary Education. Students will be provided training for between 50 hours and 72 hours — or the equivalent of 500 pages — in each subject.

To help spread computer literacy among school students, OCAC and the Utkal University for Technology Development in Indian Language have developed Oriya language-based computer applications and tools.

An Oriya word processor has been developed on the Linux platform as well. Thesaurus and spell check in Oriya language have also been developed. Multimedia DVD has been developed for the computer-based training.

Says S.K. Tripathy, Deputy General Manager of OCAC, "Computer-based training has several important advantages, the most important of which is that one is able to ensure uniform teaching standards. Besides, one is assured of timely completion of the course. The teachers can prepare ahead of coming to class and students can get their doubts clarified their anytime."

Plans in the future include hosting the computer-based training content on the Internet and extending computer-based education and training to all subjects as per the course curriculum of the state's Board of Secondary Education. After successfully showcasing the scheme in Orissa, OCAC plans to replicate it in other States in the region as well. "It is easy to replicate and it is cost-effective," says Tripathy.

Thanks to the optimism the scheme has helped generate in the academic world in the State, a proposal has been sent to the 12th Finance Commission to bring another 1,600 schools under the scheme's purview.

This will entail an estimated investment of Rs 57 crore. When the wish is granted, Orissa will perhaps figure among the first States in the country to successfully implement an alternative education delivery mechanism that truly makes most use of technology. That certainly augurs well for young students across the State.

ambar_singhroy@rediffmail.com

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