Sample Material of Current Public Administration Magazine

Information and Communication Technology

ICT in Education

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools have been subsumed in the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). Now ICT in Schools is a component of the RMSA. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Schools was launched in December, 2004 and revised in 2010 to provide opportunities to secondary stage students to mainly build their capacity on ICT skills and make them learn through computer aided learning process. The Scheme is a major catalyst to bridge the digital divide amongst students of various socio economic and other geographical barriers. The Scheme provides support to States/UTs to establish computer labs on sustainable basis.

Components

The scheme has essentially four components:-

• The first one is the partnership with State Government and Union Territories Administrations for providing computer aided education to Secondary and Higher Secondary Government and Government aided schools.
• The second is the establishment of smart schools, which shall be technology demonstrators.
• The third component is teacher related interventions, such as provision for engagement of an exclusive teacher, capacity enhancement of all teachers in ICT and a scheme for national ICT award as a means of motivation.
• Fourth one relates to the development of a e-content, mainly through Central Institute of Education Technologies (CIET), six State Institutes of Education Technologies (SIETs) and 5 Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs), as also through outsourcing.

The highlights of the revised scheme are:-

• The non-recurring expenditure for school has been revised from Rs. 6.7 lakh to Rs. 6.4 lakh whereas annual recurring expenditure has been revised from 1.34 lakh to Rs. 2.70 lakh. The recurring cost will be provided for a period of 5 years from the year of sanction.
• The objective of the Scheme is to cover all Government and government aided secondary and higher secondary schools by giving priority for early coverage of schools in educationally backward blocks and in areas having concentration of SC/ST/minority/weaker section.
• Under the revised scheme, there is a provision of a suitably qualified full time computer teacher in each secondary and higher secondary school. In case of higher secondary school having computer related subjects as elective, there would be need for a post graduate in computers teacher.
• There are provisions for in-service (induction and refresher) training for all teachers in secondary and higher secondary schools to enable them to impart ICT enabled teaching.
• 150 smart schools would be sent up by State Government and UTs at the district level using a grant of Rs. 25 lakh for a schools and a recurring grant of Rs. 2.5 lakh per year. This would enable provision of at least 40 computers in each such school.
• There is a provision to strengthen SIETs to contribute to e-content development.
• Management, monitoring and evaluation will be strengthened.
• Convergence with the existing programme would be essential especially in teacher training and ensuring reliable power supply and internet connectivity.
• The scheme includes National Award for teachers using ICT in schools in the teaching learning process.
• The sharing pattern will be 75.25 between the Centre and the State except for the north eastern States including Sikkim where the ration would on 90.10.

Coverage

The scheme currently covers both Government and Government aided Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools. Financial assistance is provided for procurement of computers and peripherals, educational software, training of teachers, development of e-contents, Internet connectivity & set up of smart schools. So far, 87033 government and government aided secondary and higher secondary schools have been approved for coverage under ICT in Schools Scheme.

Financial Assistance And Cost Norms

Financial assistance is given to States, CIET and SIETs on the basis of the approvals accorded by Project Approval Board (PAB) chaired by Secretary (School Education and Literacy). The project cost is shared between Centre and States in ration of 75:25 except for the NER states including Sikkim where it is 90:10.

Smart School

Under the existing Information Communication Technology in School Scheme as against the target of setting up of 150 more such schools, this Ministry has approved for coverage of 63 Smart School so far. The Smart Schools are being established in the Districts by conversion of one of the existing State Government schools to serve as a role model and Technology Demonstrator amoung the neighbourhood schools.

National Award For Teachers Using ICT For Innovation In Education

Under the ICT in Schools, to promote computer enabled learning and usage of ICT in teaching in Government and Government aided Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools has provision for instituting the National Award for innovative use of ICT to motivate the Teachers and Teacher Educators for innovative use of ICT in teaching-learning.

The National Award for Teachers using ICT for innovation in education for the year 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 was given away to the 9 awardees along with the National Teacher Award on Teachers Day.

(Source- Ministry of HRD)
 

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