(a) whether the Government proposes to launch ‘EDUSAT Scheme’, viewed as a new revolution for education method across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the names of the States in which this scheme is being launched;
(d) the manner in which rural areas are likely to be connected through this scheme;
(e) whether the course of this scheme is likely to be based on audio-visual method; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SMT. D. PURANDESWARI)
(a) to (c) EDUSAT, a project of Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), is already in operation since 2005
wherein an Internet Protocol (IP) based network is provided
to all States, Union Territories and major national
educational institutions. EDUSAT provides both Ku-band and C-
band transponders to cover the entire country with two-way
audio-video connectivity.
(d) Two types of terminals namely Satellite Interactive
Terminals (SITs) and Receive Only Terminals (ROTs) are
deployed under EDUSAT programme. The ROTs are used for
providing primary and secondary education and the SITs are
used for providing higher and professional education. The
live classes conducted by expert teachers are transmitted
from the studios to these schools and colleges. Using SITs
the students can have live interaction with the expert
teacher. Most of these terminals are deployed in rural
areas.
(e) and (f) EDUSAT network is completely an audio-visual
medium using multimedia technology wherein teacher-student
connectivity is facilitated in distance mode by creating a
Teaching End and Classroom End. The teacher teaches in a
studio in audio/ visual format which is transmitted to and
received by students at multiple classrooms throughout the
country. The interaction between teacher and students takes
place through video to video mode, through audio and through
online chat mode.