PANAJI
The Goa government announced on Friday that schools in the State will soon be equipped with ICT laboratories having 10 laptops, one server laptop, 65-inch Interactive Intelligent Panel with built-in CPU and other peripherals.
All the systems are to be powered with Windows operating system. The Directorate of Education issued a tender to this effect on Friday.
As the geography of the State does not allow smooth, uninterrupted internet connectivity, most government schools, especially in remote areas, have difficulty in getting connected for online classes.
On the other hand, some new schools which were not provided computers by the government have, with the help of Parents-Teachers’ Associations (PTA) and under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, managed to equip themselves with state-of-the-art computer laboratories.
A government primary teacher from South Goa, who spoke on condition of anonymity, wondered whether this promise of providing IT equipment would be fulfilled in the current academic year. He lamented such announcements remain on paper and do not materialise.
“There are around 600 schools in Goa including 450 secondary and 150 higher secondary, and if 10 laptops are to be given to each school, at least 6000 or more laptops would be required,” the teacher observed and added,”Some schools have more student strength, and they may need more than 10 laptops. When such a large quantity is purchased, it should be ensured that the latest technology is sought for, but the tendering process is usually lengthy.”
“By the time orders are given and the amount is released, it will take at least six months. And the technology also will change, making the laptops outdated. And the new government also will be formed by then, so will the policy announced now be in place then?” questioned the teacher.
Another government teacher, who also did not want to be named, said, “Most government schools do not have facilities to use this equipment and more than half of the already available computers are not in working condition in these schools. For example, out of our 10 computers, only three are in working condition. We do not get funds for repair.
At Surla Government School which is on Goa-Karnataka border, the headmaster Kashinath Naik has managed to take the help of the local MLA to get the school necessary infrastructure and a computer laboratory.
