Khandapada: The e-Vidyalaya programme launched in Nayagarh district has come to naught with computer systems worth several crores rotting in the school premises in the district, a report said.
The programme was launched by the Centre and state government in 2013 for the skill development of high school students through computer education. The closure of the programme has pushed the computer education of thousand students into darkness.
Parents and guardians have demanded revival of the programme in the schools. The Centre spent over Rs 450 crore in the country out of which it provided 75 per cent of it while the rest was borne by the state governments.
The programme was launched in the state under Odisha Madhyamik Sikshya Mission (OMSM) that aims at reaching 4,000 government schools in the first phase and an additional 2,000 government schools in the second phase.
An amount of around Rs 746 crore was demarcated for the project. The programme aimed at providing easy access of technology designed to help students learn beyond regular classroom studies beginning with the set-up of ICT Labs.
Special training was also imparted to the high school teachers to help them to use these hi-tech facilities to their full extent.
Reports said that the programme was launched with the appointment of education coordinator for each school by signing an agreement for a period of five years.
According to the agreement, the male and female teachers of the schools will acquire knowledge in computers from the education coordinators and impart computer teaching to the students after the expiry of the term of the latter.
The programme was launched in 119 schools in the district. However, it has become an aberration in Nayagarh district as the teachers are not imparting computer teaching to the students after the expiry of the term of education coordinators.
The education coordinators have left the schools leaving the students in lurch and computers and peripherals worth over a crore are lying idle in the schools without being put into any use.
Hundreds of computers, printers, interactive white boards, inverters, projectors, fire retardants, generators, furniture like table and chairs in the ICT labs of schools are gathering dusts without being put into use.
Reports said that two private firms Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Services (IL&FS) and TeleCommunication Consultant India Ltd (TCIL) had signed the agreement with the state government for implementation of the programme. IL&FS appointed computer teachers in 27 districts including Nayagarh while TCIL nominees were appointed in three districts including Kendrapara district.
These computer teachers were appointed on monthly remuneration ranging between Rs 5,933 to Rs 6,900. The education coordinators have left the schools after the expiry of their terms but teachers in many schools are yet to develop expertise on computer education.
The school authorities are faced with a difficult situation as to how to conduct online classes in the absence of computer teachers.
When contacted, Jayanti Sahu, headmistress of RC High School here admitted the development. She said, “This has hit the online education, the computers are being put into use where there availability of vocational teachers.” She added that students will be benefitted if the computer teachers are again appointed in the schools.
Block education officer Chandan Kumar Rath said that the computer systems and peripherals are in good condition and being put into use by the concerned school teachers. The programme has seen a setback as the students are not coming to schools due to Covid-19 restrictions.
A student Ashutosh Singh Samant of Ramachandra High school urged the state government to take a relook on the programme.
PNN