Kendrapada: In a significant boost to digital education, all govt and govt-aided secondary schools in Odisha are now equipped with smart classrooms, Union minister of state for education Jayant Chaudhary informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Responding to a question from MP Debashish Samantaray, Chaudhary revealed that under the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC), 667 upper primary schools and 318 secondary schools across Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh districts have been digitally enabled. Additionally, the Samagra Shiksha scheme has facilitated smart classroom set up in 6,065 upper primary and 909 secondary schools.
The minister also highlighted that 96,718 primary-level teachers across 41,448 schools have been provided with tablets under the Samagra Shiksha initiative.
The World Bank-supported Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) Project, implemented as a centrally-sponsored scheme, is currently active in Odisha and five other states. The five-year project, which commenced on Feb 2, 2021, aims to enhance student outcomes and improve school education governance through initiatives like the Vidya Samikha Kendra (VSK) and Career Counselling Platform.
To bridge the digital divide in education and align with National Education Policy-2020 objectives, the govt has launched PM e-VIDYA, a comprehensive digital education initiative.
"These digital initiatives, particularly the ICT and smart classroom components, are transforming traditional classrooms into tech-driven learning spaces," Chaudhary said.
"This transformation enhances student engagement through multimedia content and interactive activities, ultimately enriching their educational experience. The programme aims to benefit approximately 25 crore school-going children nationwide, including those in Odisha.