Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 18: The education department has requested aid from corporates and NGOs to set up smart classrooms at 43,000 primary schools.

Each smart classroom needs Rs 2 lac worth infrastructure and hence a total of Rs 875 crore is needed for the ambitious project.

The education department held a meeting with 150 corporates and NGOs at Vikas Soudha on Friday and put forth several requirements.

Representational image

“While children studying in private schools are exposed to computer and technology-based education, children at government are at disadvantage due to lack of facilities,” said Department of Public Instruction Commissioner KG Jagadeesha.

He also said that the department plans to start smart classrooms in 4,500 high schools in next three years.

Meanwhile, a few corporates and NGOs representatives pointed out that one has to think twice before introducing smart classrooms as smart classrooms have not revolutionized education. In several classrooms, teachers themselves have abandoned the idea as they are perceived as inefficient, they added.

The meeting was attended by representatives of HP, IBM, Samsung, Accenture, Embassy and NGOs like Makkala Jagrati and Akshara. The department has already received Rs 150 crore, which has been donated by 60 agencies in the past two years.