In order to improve computer skills of students, the Department of ST and SC Development has decided to provide computer education in the schools run by it.
Official sources said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has cleared a proposal in this regard to be implemented in 86 select schools run by the department. The students of these schools from Class VIII to X will be imparted the computer education.
The infrastructure in these schools will be upgraded by setting up ultra-modern computer laboratories. The department has adopted the shared computer model of lab in which one server, loaded with required set of applications/software, is shared by a minimum of 10 work stations/nodes.
Twenty districts in the State such as Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Puri, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Balangir, Sundargarh, Boudh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur will be covered under the programme.
While the highest number of 10 schools in Mayurbhanj will have the facility, eight schools each in districts like Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Rayagada will benefit.
Each school will have a computer instructor with requisite qualification of ‘O’ Level from DOEACC or equivalent certificate from a recognised institution. Experts have been asked to prepare a detailed syllabus of computer course for each class. The aim is to ensure that each student under coverage will acquire the minimum competence level in computer application.
Odisha Model Tribal Education Society (OMTES), the nodal agency for educational development in the schools under the department, will coordinate the new programme.