Gadgets provided under Govt’s Student Digital Learning Aid Scheme
SHILLONG: About eleven thousand Class XII students in East Khasi Hills District were presented with mobile tablets under the Student Digital Learning Scheme at a massive function held here on Wednesday. Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who released the mobile tablets and also presented them to the students, said that the students’ community in this era of globalization cannot remain in isolation and the Government through this initiative wants to keep the students of the State at par with those in the rest of the country, adding that the Government needs to ensure that each student contributes to the society.
The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to have critical analysis of the Education department and wondered if the State, despite getting the tag of being the educational hub of the North East, has been able to exploit the educational resources as yet.
Stating that the Government is ‘focused’ on investments in the Education sector, Dr Sangma said that this sector tops all the other sectors in the State in terms of employment generation.
An analytical data showed that Education sector has generated the maximum employment opportunities, he said.
“Education is a crucial sector as it can provide the highest number of employment opportunities in the State,” the Chief Minister said while asserting that Government intends to increase investment in this sector.
The mobile tablets presented to the students are the latest generation Android 4.1 with Dual-Core 1.5 Ghz processor.
The tablets are pre-loaded with study materials of Class XI and Class XII courses of CBSE and MBOSE. Sample question papers for Medical and Engineering examinations, classroom teaching format video and audio books have also been pre-loaded in the tablets.
The Chief Minister also assured that similar mobile tablets would also be provided to teachers under the Digital Teaching Aid Scheme of the Government, besides students of other classes provided funds can be managed for the same.
A total of around twenty-five thousand students of Class XII across the State would be presented the tablets in a phased manner.
Earlier, IT Minister AL Hek stated that Education is an asset which cannot be taken away by any one at any cost.
“If our Chief Minister is a dreamer, our students should be bigger dreamers,” Hek said, while pointing out that the Government wants the young students of Meghalaya to accomplish their vision.
Chief Secretary WMS Pariat, who was also present on the occasion, said that the tablets would help the students to get educational resources which will put them at par with others across the country.
He, however, urged the students not to use the tablets as a substitute for studies.
Commissioner and Secretary of IT department, DP Wahlang, informed that the tablets have a two-year warranty and service centres have been opened in all the eleven districts of the State.
He also asserted that the Chief Minister has assured that Wi-Fi connectivity would be provided in all the Higher Secondary schools to enable students to derive optimum benefit from the gadget.
A colourful programme was presented by students from different schools for the massive crowd that included students, parents, teachers, besides the Government officials and other dignitaries.