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IT@School to finally take off in Kerala
Monday, 19 May 2003, 19:30 IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An ambitious programme to introduce IT lessons in all government-run schools in Kerala will finally take off in the current academic year.
IT@School, which Intel Corporation is helping implement, envisages compulsory computer education as a separate subject from Class 8. The programme was launched during the tenure of the previous E.K. Nayanar government but is being implemented in full only now.
"Last year this was only an optional subject in Class 8. From this year it would be made a compulsory subject and from next year this would be there in Class 9 and in the following year in Class 10 too," Education Minister Nalakth Soopy told reporters here Monday.
Of the 2,397 government-run schools in the state, computer labs have been set up in 1,991 so far. In the rest, part-time arrangements would be made with private agencies to impart practical computer training. Textbooks for the IT course have already been printed in both English and Malayalam.
Intel has so far trained 13,000 teachers. Another 46,000 teachers are being given training in a phased manner. Intel has also trained 450 master trainers who would help teachers update their knowledge.
Soopy said since 2001-02, the state government has been setting aside funds for the IT@School project. But in the first year though 
17.5 million was set aside, only 2.7 million was utilised. The following year the state received 52.8 million for this scheme, including federal assistance.
"This year we have set aside a record 150 million, including central assistance, for this project," said Soopy.
The minister added that emphasis on IT at all levels of education would be a major ingredient in the new education policy to be announced soon.
"An IT grid connecting major educational institutions would be an important thing and also commencement of new online courses and examinations," he said.
One setback to the IT@School project has been the lack of support from non-resident Keralite groups that had promised to help in cash and kind.
"Several promises were made by these organisations for supplying second hand computers free of cost, but nothing has happened so far," said Soopy.
Source: IANS
17.5 million was set aside, only 2.7 million was utilised. The following year the state received 52.8 million for this scheme, including federal assistance.
"This year we have set aside a record 150 million, including central assistance, for this project," said Soopy.
The minister added that emphasis on IT at all levels of education would be a major ingredient in the new education policy to be announced soon.
"An IT grid connecting major educational institutions would be an important thing and also commencement of new online courses and examinations," he said.
One setback to the IT@School project has been the lack of support from non-resident Keralite groups that had promised to help in cash and kind.
"Several promises were made by these organisations for supplying second hand computers free of cost, but nothing has happened so far," said Soopy.
Source: IANS