Over 20,000 government schools to get internet facilities by 2019

Directorate of School Education sources said Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd (TACTV) has also been entrusted for installing optical fibre cable (OFC) in all government higher secondary schools for this purpose. The OFC will also enable the students to get connected to National Knowledge Network.

“Internet facilities will be given to the schools from middle level. Teachers will be provided training once the internet connection becomes active,” a senior government official from the Education Directorate said. He added that priority will be given to the schools situated in the backward areas of the state.

According to him, more than 40,000 teachers will be trained to handle internet utilities. “Internet experts, constituted by the department, will continue to monitor all the schools to ensure uninterrupted internet connection,” he said. The authorities will also ensure to replace old computers with new ones in the schools so that the latest education applications run on them. On the internet-based learning methods in higher secondary schools, the official said, the department has already designed and developed need-specific training programmes through internet at all levels for the students.

“The new measure also includes appointment of qualified full-time computer teachers in each secondary and higher secondary school,” he said adding that in case of higher secondary schools which already have computer as an elective subject, there will be a teacher with post graduate qualification in the discipline.”

The official said teachers will be able to download subject-based study materials from the internet. He added that TACTV will soon engage a multinational company for laying OFC in the schools, which would ensure sharing of resources from National Knowledge Network for the benefit of the students.