The state government has geared up to make e-learning an integral part of high school curriculum under the e-Vidyalaya programme, which was launched by chief minister Naveen Patnaik in February just before the last general elections.
At a recent meeting chaired by development commissioner A P Padhi, it was decided that information and communication technology (ICT) laboratories in 4,000 government-run and aided schools, which have been included for ICT@school scheme in the first phase, will be ready by September 30. These schools have to make ICT lab as part of their academic calendars and time tables, a senior government officer said.
A teacher from each high school, preferably from science or mathematics background, will be identified and trained to man the ICT lab equipped with high-end integrated computer, projector, interactive board and audio-visual facilities. The government would work out on a suitable incentive structure for such teachers so that a sense of ownership comes to the teacher concerned. E-content prepared by Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL) has prepared e-content for Class VIII and IX students, which will be used in these labs.