Punjab to recruit 3564 more computer teachers

by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, OCT 4
With a view to enable every student of Punjab state to become digitally literate, the Punjab Government would establish 494 more new computer labs under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project in Government and Government aided schools in the state. Besides, 3,564 more computer teachers would also be recruited in the schools.
       Disclosing this here today Education Minister Punjab Dr. Upinderjit Kaur said that under centrally sponsored ICT scheme, the Punjab ICT Education Society (PICTES) had launched this ambitious computer
learning programme for 6th to 12th classes in all upper primary and secondary schools the state in a phased manner. "Computer education subject has also been made compulsory w.e.f 2009-10 and the Punjab is
the only state that provided computer labs in all middle and secondary schools, she added.
The minister further added that the students had acquired a number of
IT skills during the ICT education program. "Three phases of ICT were fully operational and running as planned. Under the phase-IV, the State Government would provide 136 computer labs in the remaining
government schools and 358 in the Govt. aided schools to impart computer education to the students.
       The Minister added that under the ICT project, 3,564 more computer teachers would be recruited for these labs which included 494 teachers for the new labs and 3070 teachers for existing government schools.
"To successfully train the students, approximately 7,000 computer faculty had already been recruited in the schools", she added.
       Dr. Upinderjit Kaur further said that all ICT schools have been provided with generator sets and broadband internet connections with unlimited download facility which would facilitate further during
implementation of state-wide school management of information system (MIS) & geographic information systems (GIS) which was under development. Computer books had already been provided to all the
students free of cost.
She added that this computer learning programme would certainly facilitate and catalyze the growth of digital economy in the state by leveraging this infrastructure and re-engineered workforce and would create job opportunities for students as well as computer teachers.
"The Punjab Government would endeavour that students must get the best of IT training during their school study and compete at national for a" she added.
Education Minister further said that under this project, school teachers were also being trained in effective delivery of education by using IT tools for teaching with latest methodologies & aids. "The
earlier assessment had confirmed that enrollment in the ICT schools had gone up considerably and attendance had improved. Besides this, the overall teaching/learning environments in the schools have also
improved", she asserted.