Jajpur: IT training for students is in a shambles in this district as about 1,956 schools out of the 2,871 government and aided schools run without power connections, a report said Monday.
This is the scenario even as the state government is making all out efforts to provide quality education to students through Computer Aided Learning (CAL) under the Sarva Sikyha Abhiyan (SSA). The scheme is aimed at increasing the mental and intellectual skills of school students through computer education.
CAL has been introduced for students from Class-V to Class-VIII to help them acquire basic knowledge in computers. The government has also spent about Rs 1 crore per school to install computer systems. However, lack of power supply has frustrated the government’s move.
About 95 schools have been provided with computers while plans are afoot to supply computers to over 100 schools. The district has lagged behind in computer education in comparison to other districts in the state.
This has happened despite the fact that Jajpur MLA Pranab Prakash Das was the energy minister after the 2014 elections.
It is estimated that 210 out of 361 schools in Barchana block; 152 out of 243 in Bari block; 183 out of 271 in Binjharpur block; 150 out of 212 in Danagadi block; 235 out of 321 in Dasarathpur block; 277 out of 362 in Dharmasala block; 194 out of 290 in Jajpur block; 251 out of 352 in Korei block; 183 out of 263 in Rasulpur block; and 121 out of 196 schools in Sukinda block do not have power connections.
SSA sources said the district has 2,191 government schools to provide free and compulsory education to students under the Child Rights Act.
According to Section-25, these schools have a total of 7,547 teachers to impart education to the students. However, the teacher-student ratio falls far short as there is a need for 600 more teachers for these schools. The teacher shortage has forced the authorities to engage retired teachers in these schools.
However, lack of power connections have proved a hurdle in providing education and more so for computer education for which power supply is a must.
When contacted, district education officer Krushna Chandra Nayak said the state government has been apprised of the power problem in these schools which is likely to be resolved soon. PNN
