ICT scheme: 5,000 more schools to be covered in phase III

The phase I of the scheme covered 500 schools in 2007-2008 and phase II 2,500 in 2011-2012.

Launched by the Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ministry in 2004,the scheme aims to provide computer education to students of secondary and higher secondary government and government-aided schools.

The scheme,which enables the states and Union Territories to establish computer labs on sustainable basis,is considered as a major catalyst to bridge the digital divide among students of various socio-economic and other geographical barriers. “To be implemented under Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model,the scheme in phase III will incur expenditure of Rs 17.9 lakh per school over five years,” a government resolution said.

Speaking to Newsline, officiating state director of education (secondary and higher secondary) Sarjerao Jadhav said the scheme will take the computer literacy rate to higher level in the state.

“The scheme has made schoolchildren computer savvy in very early stage of their life. The phase III,being relatively larger,will ensure that large number of children from government and government-aided schools are covered under the scheme,” he said.