Kejri govt buys tablets to improve text books

The Delhi government’s education department is buying tablets for its text books bureau in a step towards paperless operations and infusion of IT to improve text book content and enhancing students’ learning.

“Almost a dozen tablets are being procured,” said an official of the Delhi Bureau of Text Books (DBTB)  which deals with printing of free books for government school students.

Sources said the 3G calling tablets would be used by officials and content experts to speed up the work of syllabus revision for government school books.

At some stage, the use of tablets in multimedia classrooms may also be tried out as part of introduction of IT tools in learning, said an official, pointing to Education Minister Manish Sisodia’s stress on improving the quality of teaching tools in government schools.

Last year, Sisodia had announced a plan to cut  by  25 percent the syllabus for classes VI to VIII to pave way for more skill-based courses, art, theatre and sports in the education system.

“The tablets may be used to speed up the task of syllabus review that should ideally be completed before the next academic session,” said an AAP functionary.

Suggestions to teachers
A syllabus review committee consisting of members from National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Delhi University, educational organisations, civil society, among others, was constituted to examine the 40,000 suggestions given by government teachers.

“The experiment of pruned syllabus is likely to be introduced in 50 model government schools on a pilot basis,” said an official.

Sources in DBTB said the IT initiatives are part of education department’s aim of ushering in academic reforms that touch issues directly affecting classroom teaching, student performance and accountability of teachers.

Contents stored in tablets could also be used to teach without paper books, saving printing cost and time.

The government offers free books, uniforms and meals to students as part of its strategy to reduce drop-out rate and provide incentive for admission to those who can not afford to buy books.

The Directorate of Education also runs a book bank scheme to help students from economically weaker section of society financially by supplying them books to continue with their schooling.