Schools in rural areas lack computers, infra

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 25

Several government schools, especially those in rural areas, still lack basic facilities such as the availability of computers and information communication technology (ICT) labs. This is despite the fact that the state Education Department has allocated a budget ranging from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 44 lakh to select schools for improving their infrastructure.

Cause for concern

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• Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Haripur Sandholi, in the Baddi industrial area has enrolled 100 students for computer science, but it has neither any ICT lab nor a dedicated computer system
• At GSSS, Guggaghat, in Solan district, 125 students have enrolled for computer science and information technology, but there are barely 12 computers in working condition.

While a budget of Rs 60 crore has been provided to select schools in the state, others face discrimination as they lack even the basic facilities such as white boards, computers, etc.

The Swaran Jayanti Utkrisht Vidyalaya Yojana and the Swaran Jayanti Gyanodaya Cluster Sreshtha Vidyalaya were among ambitious schemes that were announced by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in 2020-2021 to improve the quality of education in government schools.

Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Haripur Sandholi, in the Baddi industrial area has enrolled 100 students for computer science, but it has neither any ICT lab nor a dedicated computer system. The school management rues that no agency has come forward to offer computers to the school. The management has now requested the Principal of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) at Solan to provide surplus computers, if any, as at least 10 computers were required for the enrolled students.

“Since students here come from the rural background, they lack computer facility even at home. The non-availability of computers at the school, too, will deprive them of this key aspect of education,” said a teacher.

At GSSS, Guggaghat, in Solan district, 125 students have enrolled for computer science and information technology, but there are barely 12 computers in working condition. Since classes for these courses are held simultaneous, students are unable to obtain practical training. Sources said the managements of these schools were trying to arrange old computers. However, on the other hand, there were schools that had got funds under various schemes to purchase sports kits.