Smartshala in 10,661 schools

Tribune News service

Shimla, July 30

CM Jai Ram Thakur launched Sampark Smartshala English and Maths Programme under Samagra Shiksha Himachal here today. He said the major objective of the scheme was to ensure the provision of quality education.

“I am sure that this smart-kit will enhance learning outcome of lakhs of students and Sampark Smartshala Maths and English will be started in all 10,661 Government Primary Schools, which will benefit over 3.2 lakh students,” he added.

The government has taken a strategic approach to education with a combination of academic and administrative reforms and the focus now is on strengthening the existing institutions, instead of opening new ones.

Stating that new learning and teaching aids would prove helpful in attracting the students to learn new things and acquire knowledge, Thakur thanked the Sampark Foundation for contributing Rs 25 crore to this project.

Thakur launched English Smartshala kit and Smartshala work book, whereas Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj launched Maths Smartshala kit.

The CM also launched “Shiksha Saath Mobile App” for monitoring and evaluating the education system in the schools which would work offline as well. He also launched “e-Samwad mobile app” to create direct contact with the teachers and parents under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. This would be made available to over 15,000 schools.

Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that e-Samwad app would go a long way in creating direct communication with the teachers and parents. He said that over 6000 elementary teachers have been recruited during the last one-and-a-half years, which shows commitment of the government to strengthen government schools.

Founder Chairman, Sampark Foundation, Vineet Nayar said the foundation was running Sampark Smartshala in 76,000 schools in six states and the foundation aimed at training over 55,000 teachers on Sampark Smartshala Programme in 2019-20. Earlier, the CM inaugurated Administrative and Science Blocks of Rajiv Gandhi Government Degree College, Kotshera, completed by about Rs 9 crore. The building has four floors and a basement with area of about 2,640 sq.m