Children in government schools are now learning lessons through digital classes

Updated on: Saturday, November 17, 2012

UP government's public-private tie up in primary education seems to be reaping positive results. In fact, many children in government schools, who were accustomed to rote learning are now learning lessons through digital classes, power point presentations and video and audio sessions, under 'Project Shiksha' launched by the Microsoft India in collaboration with the state government.

As many as 11,691 government school teachers in UP and 2,443 in Lucknow have been trained in information technology skills affecting more than 2.5 lakh students in the state so far, while 1,721 schools across the state and 361 in Lucknow have been covered under the project, which was launched in UP in December 2006.

Principal of District Institute for Education and Training (DIET), Lucknow, Lalita Pradeep said, "Six years after the project has launched, and we finally hear some murmur about how teachers and students are benefitting from it. On one hand, it is making a teacher equipped with IT skills and on the other it is helping children in retaining their interest in studies.'' Though the curriculum provided by Microsoft is compact, it's high time that they upgraded their software, added Pradeep.

The success of the training in the state can be gauged from the fact that a teacher from the state has been selected for Innovative Technology Leadership Awards (ITLA) for the year 2012. Firoz Khan from Primary School Chidawak, Gulaothi, Bulandshahar is among five, who has been selected for this award. "Children are curious to learn now. With the infotech training, I have pulled children back to the classrooms," said Firoz who is gradually converting all topics related to science and mathematics in digital form. His first power point class was on 'How the Universe looks' that was attended by 100 odd class V students.For Gangesh Kumar Shukla, a teacher at Primary School Bawarpur, Farrukhabad, the experience is a unique one. "I was first reluctant to undergo the ICT training. But the training updated teachers on how to integrate using computers in everyday classroom teaching through a tailored curriculum, which was available in Hindi," said Gangesh.

Bharti Arya, a teacher from Poorv Madhyamik Vidyalya Banthra, Sarojininagar Lucknow said that there has been 10% increase in the number of students who attend her classes. "I now feel confident as students find my teaching interesting," she said.In 2006, UP government signed a MoU with Microsoft India. It was aimed at imparting expertise in the field of elementary education in UP, which has maximum enrolments of students in primary sector in the country. It was decided that Microsoft will train 3,000 teachers every year for a period of five years. "Having completed five years, the MoU was renewed earlier this year," said a government official while talking to TOI.

Besides UP, Project Shiksha is operational in 12 states, which includes UP, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. Apart from establishing IT academies, where it sets up the infrastructure for the state governments for training teachers, it has also tied up with various state-run DIETs, which help spread the reach of the programme. It has also tied up with educational institutions like the Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), madarsas among other government schools.

Launched in 2003 by Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Project Shiksha is designed to deliver affordable software solutions, comprehensive training and curriculum leadership for students and teachers in government schools. Till date 7,20,665 government school teachers have received the training impacting 35 million students in the country.

Haja Sheriff, Education Lead, Public Sector - Microsoft India, said, "Government teachers are fast recognizing technology as a powerful tool that can revolutionise education and transform the lives of youth. The project is for teachers who have never before used a computer to overcome their apprehension, start using technology in the classroom and go on to deliver lessons, which engage and inspire their students."

Children in government schools are now learning lessons through digital classes

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