‘Community participation to boost digital infra in schools’

Prayagraj: The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered District Magistrates (DMs) and basic education department officials to explore the options of community participation to deal with the lack of digital infrastructure in the government-run primary and upper primary schools. The step was taken after realising the challenges which are being faced by the students and the administration of about 1.60 lakh government-run primary and upper primary schools of the state during the ongoing pandemic.
There is a large number of schools which lack required digital infrastructure to ensure education to students through online learning.
The officials have been asked to contact NGOs, social organizations and even individuals and corporate houses interested in adopting particular schools and help in providing them computers and Wi-Fi connectivity for the benefit of the students. Even Gram Panchayat funds can be used for the upgradation of the schools as centres of digital learning, informed officials. The instructions of the additional chief secretary (basic education) Renuka Kumar (dated September 2), copy of which has been sent to all district magistrates with copies marked to all divisional commissioners, director general (school education) and director (basic education), clearly specified the items and their technical specifications needed to boost the digital infrastructure of these institutions.
“Acting on the orders, we have asked all block education officers to approach and invite individuals, NGOs and firms who could contribute in this noble mission,” said Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA)- Prayagraj Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha. The plan is to rope in community members even firms which wish to contribute by way of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in this regard. The lists comprises computers, mouse, keyboard, USB ports, Wifi devices, speakers, projectors and screens. The officials strive to procure all these essential items for the schools.
The order acknowledges that a large number of students of these schools were still unable to access and use the digital academic content that was being made available for them through different educational portals, YouTube videos, WhatsApp groups besides programmes being made available through Doordarshan and Akashwani.
The additional chief secretary has asked officials to tap trader organizations, private trusts to even industrial organisations for making available the digital infrastructure including setting up smart classrooms in these 1.60 lakh schools having over 1.8 crore kids enrolled in them across 75 districts of the state.