Question : COMPUTER EDUCATION IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

(a) whether computer education has not yet been properly promoted in the Government secondary and senior secondary schools;

(b) if so, the present status of the computer education in the Government institutions in the country;

(c) the details of schemes formulated and being implemented for developing computer education in those institutions;

(d) whether the State Governments have asked for funds for introducing computer education in the Government schools;

(e) if so, the funds provided by the Centre so far, State-wise; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI ARJUN SINGH)

(a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PARTS (a) TO (f) OF THE REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 272 BY SHRI RAVICHANDRAN SIPPIPARAI, M.P. REGARDING COMPUTER EDUCATION IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS FOR ANSWER ON 18.03.2008.

(a) to (c): The Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Schools” is being implemented since December, 2004, inter alia, to promote the usage of ICT especially in secondary and higher secondary Government schools in rural areas. Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for provision of ICT infrastructure, content, teachers’ training and internet connectivity to enable computer literacy among students and for computer aided teaching and learning in Government and Government aided secondary and higher secondary schools.

(d) to (f): Funds are sanctioned to States /UTs based on their Computer Education Plans. No fund was released during 2004-05. Details of funds released to States/UTs during the years 2005-06 to 2007-08 are given in the Annexure.