Kerala 'first in the nation' to digitise public schools

Kerala becomes the first state in the country to set up digital education in public school. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will announce the achievement at 11 am on Monday.

Thiruvananthapuram: As COVID-19 pushed for online education, Kerala government catered to the educational needs of the students with its already established Victers channel. Turning the challenge as an opportunity, the state has set up high tech classrooms in public schools by fast-tracking initiative launched on January 21, 2018. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will declare the state as the first to implement digitally aided education in public schools at 11 am on Monday.

Bygone are the days when merely private schools aided students with digital classrooms. Hi-tech classrooms have been set up in all public schools in the state.3,74,274 digital devices were distributed to 16,027 schools in the 'Smart Classroom' project. In the first phase, classes 1 to 7 were supplemented with hi-tech labs and hi-tech classrooms were set up for 8 to 12 standards in 4500 schools.

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"The slogan 'excellence of schools turns academics excellent' is brought into action with the initiative. Digital aid will enhance better understanding and retention among students, alleviating their burden with smart techniques", said Minister of Education, Prof C Ravindranath.

The project was funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board, KIIFB under the leadership of Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education, KITE. The project will raise the academic standards of the public education sector in Kerala, he added.

According to sources, during the announcement, Minister of Education, Prof C Ravindranath will preside. Speaker P Minister for General Education C Ravindranath will preside over the function. Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan will be the chief guest. T M Thomas Isaac, Minister of Finance will deliver the keynote address.