HARYANA EM emphasises on integration of ICT in education

Jalandhar, February 11, 2013: Haryana Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal has emphasised on integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Education for learning, teaching and information sharing.

Speaking at the Conference of South Asia Ministerial Forum on ‘Translating ICT in Education Policies Into Action” in New Delhi today, Bhukkal said that Haryana is one of the leading states of the country adopting ICT in education.

Bhukkal said that the state has covered all Government Senior Secondary Schools and High Schools in Haryana with at least one computer lab having minimum 10 computers. Some of the schools have two or more computer labs. Five schools have been provided with 88 terminals in all, making them Smart Schools. The State Government has started, “Free Computer Education Programme” to provide free computer education to students of class 6-12. Two computer faculties have been provided in 1269 Government Senior Secondary Schools. The State Government has also started another 100 per cent state funded programme- “Comprehensive Computer Education Programme,” under which 213 Government Senior Secondary Schools have been covered and provided computer labs with appropriate internet connectivity, power back up and ICT assistant. These schemes are being implemented through private partners.

Referring  to the Conference held at Bangkok, which she had attended, Bhukkal said that as per the model described at the Conference, Haryana Government has come out with a draft Master Plan 2011-25 for ICT in Education. This has three phases 2011-16, 2016-21 and 2021-25, aiming at preparing for innovations by laying a strong ICT foundation, seeding innovations by deeper integration and transforming the learning environment respectively. The goal of State Strategy and Master Plan is to facilitate access of all students and teachers to Information and Communication Technology in their class rooms, schools, communities and homes.

Bhukkal expressed confidence that integration of ICT in education will increase access to basic education for both formal and non-formal. This  in turn,  will improve the quality of basic education and promote independent learning in secondary education.

Bhukkal said that the State is persuing the RTE programme vigorously and is encouraging the use of ICT for learning and teaching in all schools, both in rural and urban areas. Later, in reply to a question, she said that the State Government is trying to engage the service providers and computer teachers for backward areas also. For meeting the problem of power cuts, the government has provided gen sets in most of the schools. She also cautioned about the misuse of ICT learning by teachers and students and said that the State Government is taking necessary steps for this. She also said that computer education is compulsory in schools and from 9^th class onwards, students are required to attend language lab also.

Earlier, UNESCO New Delhi Director, Shigeru Aoyagi said  that there are three objectives behind the use of ICT in education namely, education for all, quality of learning / teaching and fostering global citizenship. Intel Corporation World Wide Director Education, Brian Gonzalez and Chief of Education UNESCO, Dr Alisher Umarao said that the role of teacher is to engage the students into learning and ICT is helpful in it. The Education Ministers from South Asia countries- Dr Asim Ahmed (Maldives) and Dina Nath Sharma (Nepal) also spoke about the progress of ICT in education in their countries.