JAY JOSHI
With increasing use of technology in all aspects of life, the times today are changing, and there is a need to make people from non-technical backgrounds familiar with computing as well. While the responsibility to educate young students about computers lies with schools, reports suggest that 72% of Goan schools lack proper functioning computers.
This dire situation prompted Vincent Toscano, Managing Partner at Uzoorba Technologies, Chorao, and his team to take an initiative to help upgrade the computer labs in schools around Goa using the low-cost Raspberry Pi device which, along with covering the basic school syllabus, also enables the students to learn about robotics and basic programming. This initiative named Raspberry Pi 4 Schools has so far upgraded the labs of over ten schools around Goa, with its benefits reaching over 1000 students.
“In September 2015, we at Goa IT Professionals (GITP) began working to improve computer education in Goa. When we reached out to some schools, we found that their computer labs were in a terrible state. The keyboards, monitors and mice were reusable, but the CPU units were beyond repair,” says Toscano while elaborating on the origins of RPi-4-Schools programme from GITP’s Projecct GEIT (Goans Empowered with IT). “A GITP member, Anay Kamat, proposed the idea of using the low-cost Raspberry Pi microcomputer to replace these dead CPUs,” adds Toscano
Work began with the GITP members approaching the state government under the then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, but the path ahead wasn’t easy. “The minister showed interest and inclination to implement the programmer, but there were some lobbies within the government who were opposed to this low-cost upgradation of school labs.” Toscano states. Unfazed by government apathy, Uzoorba team and the GITP members nevertheless decided to embark on the project using their own finances, but this time, there were other problems. “At one of the schools, we found that the students had stolen almost all Raspberry Pi devices!” recounts the technocrat. “Later, we designed a steel cage which is used to fix the Raspberry Pi to the table or to the wall, and resolved this problem.” Uzoorba team deduced that such situations occurred because the schools did not value the free social service being provided by IT professionals. Next, they tried financing the programme through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmer, but unable to find sponsors, they chose to turned to crowdfunding, and also chose to make the venture into a paid service.
Later, presentations were made to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in 2018, but his illness put progress in a slow gear. “I will stress however that even when he was ill, and through his treatment in Mumbai and US, Parrikar kept following up on the initiative.” narrates the IT professional. The team form Chief Minister’s office facilitated meetings of the team with various other departments and the team drafted a proposal, but the optimism was short-lived. “Ultimately, the government wrote to us stating that it will approve running of the programme as a pilot project in five schools of South Goa and five schools of North Goa with its cost to be borne by us!” Toscano informs.
Elaborating more on the issues,Toscano states that such problems arise because of our attitude towards computer education today. “Our education system treats computers as a secondary subject and thus programmes such as ours will be seen as low-priority. This has to change.”
Under the RPi4Schools, Uzoorba promises to upgrade a school’s computer lab in just five hours, and offers workshops to those interested in learning more. “If the students and teachers express interest, we offer workshops on what more can be done using the devices. If we want to witness good programmers in the future, it is essential to conduct camps dedicated to the subject.That is the next goal of this programme” he says.
Programme outcomes
School labs fixed: 11
Raspberry Pi used: 68
Students reached: 1400+
