In the first of its kind initiative, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation will be imparting computer-based learning to its students in 200 schools from this academic session.
As per the plan, each school will have a well-equipped computer lab with at least ten computers. The corporation will be spending `16 crore on the project. This will give the students an opportunity to learn computer from nursery itself. The officials said the idea behind the initiative is to use computer and other information technology to assist the children in their endeavour to learn and gain knowledge.
Officials said integrated computer technology will be used to improve quality of education to the students in classroom. “The initiative will make children familiar with the new technology, thus giving them a broad understanding of different aspects of information and communication technology,” said a senior corporation official.
The proposal for the project was first made in the budget for the financial year 2013-14 which was subsequently passed by the House of the East Delhi Corporation. To begin with, the project will be implemented in 200 schools of the corporation. The civic body runs 390 schools in total in which 2.4 lakh students are enrolled.
Computer-aided learning is slowly growing pace in the school education, with several private schools using information technology in imparting education. Officials said the new medium of education in Government schools would also help in checking drop out rate.
“Computer-aided learning makes education fun for the students. Imparting education in an animated way makes education enjoyable for the students. Pictures, graphic representation also make it easier for students to grasp things, which in turn motivates kids to continue their study,” said an official.
As per plans, officials said, a fully-equipped computer aided centre would be established in each school. Tender for implementing the project would be issued soon, officials said.
“The successful bidder will be responsible for implementation of the project. The agency will set up a computer-aided centre in all these schools. The company will also be given annual maintenance contract for five years. Apart from establishing the centre, which includes providing all the software and hardware, the company will also have to provide the requisite manpower like computer teachers and the project management team,” officials said.
As per the proposal, the management team would also have to train the school teachers about equipments, software, IT skills and multimedia contents, they added.