Punjab govt schools to go hi-tech

CHANDIGARH, INDIA: All government schools in Punjab will go hi-tech by mid-2008, according to the director, public instructions for schools, S K Setia.

Government senior secondary schools will have plasma screens in classrooms interconnected and centralized with the principal's office from this academic session. The concept has been envisaged for schools, which have classrooms equipped with LCD projectors. E-learning will be encouraged in such schools.

In a bid to introduce IT in schools, expressions of interest were invited. "Four companies have evinced interest to set up infrastructure for the schools. The Chennai based Hi Command Tech India, NIIT, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) Education and Technology Services (ETS) and Educomp Resolutions have responded."

The technology advances will be introduced in government schools for the first time on a public-private partnership model. Initially, four of the government model senior secondary schools will be converted into 'Smart Schools'. The project will be run under self-financed courses for a period of one year extendable up to five years.

Earlier, the administration was in talks with the Microsoft for the installation of basic infrastructure in schools. However, the talks did not fructify, as the administration maintains that big companies like Microsoft have advanced systems, which would not be required for the government schools.

"The requirements at the moment are very basic and they would not involve huge investments. At the most the investment would be Rs. 10-15 lakh overall, as it is only a pilot project. The larger companies may come into picture when the scheme will be extended to all schools," Setia added.