Sambalpur: Available Computer Lab Remains Unutilized, No Computer Education for Sambalpur Govt School Students
Sambalpur: An entire generation is suffering as a result of the previous state government’s shortsighted policies in Odisha’s secondary education system. Despite the fact that computers are available in schools, high school students are not learning to use them. Between 2012 and 2019, an initiative known as e-Vidyalaya was implemented, which provided computers and related equipment to all government schools and established ICT laboratories. School coordinators and computer trainers were also appointed. However, this initiative ended five years ago, resulting in equipment neglect.
Last year, five converted schools received ten computers each through the e-library initiative; however, because rural school students lacked computer skills and there was no one to teach them, the computers and equipment are now useless, gathering dust in school storage rooms. All eyes are now focused on the new government’s actions.
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Given the prevalence of computers in all fields today, computer education was implemented in all government schools 12 years ago. The e-Vidyalaya scheme began in Odisha as part of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development’s ICT Schools Scheme. This scheme was launched as part of the Odisha Secondary Education Mission in 4,000 government and aided secondary schools across Odisha, including 105 in Sambalpur district.
Starting in September 2011, this scheme, with the support of the Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL), established new laboratories in all government high schools and was operational by 2014. Each school laboratory was outfitted with 12 computer systems and ancillary materials, including smart boards, generator sets, and projectors. In addition, school coordinators or computer trainers were appointed in each school to oversee these resources. However, after the scheme was terminated in 2019 and the school coordinators were removed, the laboratories became inactive. Although a teacher in each school was responsible for maintaining the equipment and providing computer training, they did not prioritize computer education over their subject teaching responsibilities. As a result, the laboratories have been largely inactive over the last five years.
Last year, as part of the transformation initiative, 205 schools in Sambalpur district received 10 computers each. These included public, aided secondary, and residential schools. Unfortunately, the majority of these computers have never been turned on since installation due to a lack of computer teachers. When contacted, Sambalpur District Education Officer Minarani Mangal responded, “I cannot comment on this matter.”
