Every student to be made digitally literate: Maluka

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, OCT 12

With a view to enable every student of Punjab state to become digitally literate, the Punjab Government would establish 795 more new computer labs under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project in the state.

          Disclosing this Education Minister Punjab Mr. Sikandar Singh Maluka 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.

The minister further added that the students had acquired a number of IT skills during the ICT education program. He said four phases of ICT were fully operational and running as planned in the state. Under the phase-V & VI the State Government would provide 653 and 142 computer labs in the remaining government schools.

      Mr. Maluka 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 system (GIS) which was under development. Computer books had already been provided to all the students free of cost.

He 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.

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.