The Times of India 08.11.2013
E-learning to be introduced in civic schools
AURANGABAD: The civic body will is set to introduce e-learning facilities the schools it runs in a bid to raise their standards of education.
Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) education officer A M Shaikh on Thursday said the facilities would be created in ten civic schools - Eight Marathi and two Urdu medium - early in December.
He said a digital projector, computers, laptops and an audio system will be provided to the schools along with subject matter for Class X. "The students will be able to understand the topics in greater detail with the help of the e-learning facility. The facility will cost us Rs 1.52 lakh for each school. The facility can also be used for the students of Classes VIII and IX," Shaikh added.
The education officer said the system would be replicated in the remaining schools based on the response it generates. Sixty six of the 78 municipal corporation-run schools are primary schools. The AMC runs only 12 high schools.
"Apart from introduction of the new facility, we have also asked all the teachers to complete the Class X syllabus by the end of December so that the students get enough time for revisions. We are planning to provide a 30-40-day window to the students for the final preparations," he said. Shaikh further said that the schools would arrange lectures of experts in the subjects in January and February.
Expressing faith in the new facility and other initiatives of the civic body, Shaikh said he was confident that of 100% results would be achieved. "In the current academic session, we hope that all the 450 students appearing for the Class X examination would clear it," he said.
Shaikh said only 56% tenth class students from AMC schools could pass the examination in 2012-13 while 52% of them cleared it in 2011-12. "The results then were not very encouraging, but this year, the teachers are putting in extra efforts to improve the standards," he said.
The civic body honours its meritorious students each year. Students scoring more than 95% in Class X are eligible for a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while those scoring between 90-95% get Rs 50,000 each.
65 civic school students to sit for talent search exam
For the first time, 65 municipal school students will sit for the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) this year. The examination is conducted by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) every year.
He said a digital projector, computers, laptops and an audio system will be provided to the schools along with subject matter for Class X. "The students will be able to understand the topics in greater detail with the help of the e-learning facility. The facility will cost us Rs 1.52 lakh for each school. The facility can also be used for the students of Classes VIII and IX," Shaikh added.
