Internet link scheme for computer labs in schools granted green light

Panaji: The state cabinet on Wednesday granted approval for a wired internet scheme for information communication technology (ICT) laboratory in schools in the state so that the teaching and learning is enhanced by using various digital educational tools and massive online open courses (MOOC’s) platform.
Through this scheme, contents of various national and international institutes, and various Digital India initiatives towards education, will be made available free of cost in the schools.
The objective of the scheme is to provide monthly rental reimbursement to avail internet services to the ICT Laboratory in government and government-aided schools in Goa.
The cabinet said that all government and government-aided schools in the state having dedicated ICT laboratories with at least 3 working computer systems will be eligible to apply under this scheme. The school should have a minimum student enrollment as prescribed by the directorate of education.
“The number of schools selected will depend on the availability of the financial provisions made. Priority will be given to remote and rural schools,” the cabinet said.
Internet services provider or internet vendor will need to provide 50 Mbps upload and download speeds at 1:10 contention ratio and unlimited data through optical fiber connection under the scheme government will provide a monthly rental reimbursement of up to 2,000 to the head of the government and government-aided schools in the state to avail the internet services to their respective school’s ICT laboratory.
The state government has taken various initiatives to promote several of the envisioned Digital India programmes, specially promoting education through ICT.