455 schools in J&K yet to set up ICT laboratories

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 19

Students enrolled in government schools in J&K continue to be deprive of computer-aided learning process. As many as 455 secondary schools are yet to establish sanctioned information and communication technology (ICT) laboratories.

Sources said the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry while sanctioning ICT laboratories for schools in J&K a few years ago had emphasised on establishing computer labs on a priority basis.

They further said financial assistance was also provided for the procurement of computers,educational software and development of e-contents, but not much progress was made to establish the same due to lack of initiatives. 

The sources further said due to the non-implementation of ICT in the government schools, various ICT and e-governance initiatives like “e-pathshala” and “shaala sidhi” were also not implemented. 

e-pathshala was developed under the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for showcasing and disseminating all educational e-resources, including textbooks, audio, video, periodicals and a variety of other print and non-print materials. 

“Shaala Siddhi” is a comprehensive instrument for school evaluation leading to improvement in schools. It was developed by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA).

As per data available, out of 21,361 schools, only 1,351 computer-aided learning (CAL) centres in J&K have been installed and made available for the students of elementary classes (upto Class VIII).

“The Central ministry has also expressed concern over the slow progress in construction work. It has come to the fore that work has not been started for 189 additional classrooms (ACRS), 172 science laboratories, 195 library and I97 art and craft rooms in J&K. The HRD Ministry has asked the state to take up these pending works on a priority and ensure their completion”, a School Education Department official said.

Information and communication technology (ICT)was launched by the HRD Ministry in December, 2004 and revised in 2010 to provide opportunities to secondary stage students to  build their capacity on ICT skills. 

The scheme has now been subsumed under the Integrated Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) Scheme. It currently covers both the government and government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools.

455 schools lack ICT labs

• As many as 455 secondary schools are yet to establish sanctioned information and communication technology (ICT) laboratories.
• Students enrolled in government schools in J&K continue to be deprived of computer-aided learning process.