ICT to bridge digital divide in education

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Government of India, today gave its approval for a new centrally-sponsored scheme, the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The scheme, submitted by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, is expected to incur Rs.4612 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan. There is a budget provision of Rs.502 crore during the current financial year for the project.

The National Mission on Education through ICT has been envisaged to leverage the potential of ICT in providing high quality personalized and interactive knowledge modules over the Internet/intranet for all the learners in Higher Education Institutions in 'anytime anywhere' mode.

This is expected to be a major intervention in enhancing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education by 5 percentage points during the 11th Five year Plan period and in ensuring access and equity in higher education, as also recommended by the Oversight Committee and the National Knowledge Commission, said a press release.

The Mission has two major components viz., (a) content generation and (b) connectivity along with provision for access devices for institutions and learners.

It seeks to bridge the digital divide among teachers/learners in higher education domain and empower those who have hitherto remained untouched by the digital revolution and have not been able to joint the mainstream of the knowledge economy, the release said.

The Mission shall work in close cooperation and collaboration with other Missions/Schemes such as the National Translation Mission, Vocational Education Mission, National Knowledge Network, Scheme of ICT@Schools, etc, to avoid any duplication and attain synergy.

It would have a three-tier committee system to monitor and guide its functioning. Also the Ministry of HRD, Department of Higher Education would enter into MoU with State Governments for proper monitoring of the scheme in their State.