Question : ICT IN SCHOOLS

(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for imparting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at schools;

(b) if so, the salient features of the scheme;

(c) the funds allocated and utilized by each State/UT under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- “Information and Communication Technology in Schools”, during the last three years and the current year, year-wise; and

(d) the number of students who have gained computer literacy under the programme during the said period, year- wise and State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) and (b): Yes, Sir. Under the Centrally sponsored scheme “Information and Communication Technology in Schools”, financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for coverage of Government and Government –aided schools for ICT-enabled learning and for computer literacy. Priority is given to schools in educationally backward blocks.The sharing pattern is 75:25 between the Centre and the State except for the north eastern States including Sikkim where the ratio is 90:10.

(c): The details of funds allocated and utilised by each State/UT under the scheme during the last three years and the current year are annexed.

(d): It is expected that in the schools covered under the scheme, all students from classes 9 to 12 attain various degrees of computer literacy. However, this is monitored by the State Government and in the absence of common proficiency test, the exact number of students who have gained proficiency is not available.