The ICT@Schools project will be introduced at all levels — primary, middle and high schools besides higher secondary classes — wherein teachers will have added options of new methods of teaching through digitised texts downloaded in class from a centralised computer, Jayalalitha announced in the Assembly, making a suo motu statement.
Under this ambitious project, students will also have the benefit of some of the best lectures in each subject through a satellite-based system, Jayalalitha said even as she came out with a nearly Rs 1,500 crore package for a host of initiatives to radically tone up the school education system in Tamil Nadu up to the Plus Two level.
This includes appointment of 13,300 school teachers at various levels this academic year itself, another 16,549 part-time teachers to impart vocational skills and stimulate co-curricular activities in children.
This plan also include massive infrastructure up-gradation across all schools like more class rooms, clean water and toilets, induction of adequate conservancy staff to ensure a clean environment around schools and even provision of school bags, geometry boxes and colour crayons for rural kids, Jayalalitha disclosed.
To reduce the textbooks burden on children, a trimester system with a continuous internal assessment will be introduced from the next academic year in schools, the chief minister said.
Both Central and state funds will be utilised for this composite new mega-package for schools.