AIF-Government of TN sign MoU to bring digital learning into classrooms
Chennai, June 23, 2008
The Government of Tamil Nadu enters today into an agreement with the American India Foundation (AIF), a not-for-profit organization leveraging people and resources in the United States for development in India, to implement AIF’s Digital Equalizer (DE) program into 150 schools, bringing technology to some 60,000 students.
“The DE program is a Computer Aided Learning (CAL) program that is bridging the education and digital divide in India and preparing tens of thousands of children to compete in the digital economy,” said Sundar Krishnan, DE Director for AIF. Targeting children in grades 6 through 10 (ages 10-14), AIF supports a DE school for 3 years and prepares the school for complete self-sufficiency after that period. DE imparts computer and internet education to students and teachers through comprehensive activity-based learning techniques. “The program is tightly integrated with the school curriculum thereby improving subject matter expertise through the use of technology,” Krishnan added.
In addition, education officials at the district and state levels are involved in regular update and feedback sessions. At the end of the three years, the teachers and administrators have the knowledge and skills required to continue integrating technology into classrooms.
Education Secretary, Thiru M. Kutralingam explained the DE program “enables an environment to change the role of the students from passive receivers of information to active constructors of knowledge.”
“Long-term learning impact is achieved through the use of innovative pedagogical interventions. Here the focus is on equipping students to use computers to analyze situations, collect information and solve problems. Technology is integrated in the teaching-learning process across all subjects,” said Krishnan.
GoTN has been at the forefront of innovations in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, especially in using Information & Communication Technology for education, and has successfully implemented several programs like Activity Based Learning. “We hope that this partnership with GoTN will become the model for large-scale replication of the DE Program throughout India,” explained Krishnan.
In the current DE Program in TN, GoTN will provide the computers and other infrastructure elements, while AIF will provide Rs. 1.2 crore over three years to train and support teachers and staff in each school.
AIFT currently runs the DE Program in 1300 schools in 13 states in India. The program has been operational since 2002. Similar large-scale government supported DE programs already exist in Rajasthan, Punjab, Andra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa. DE has brought technology to over 1,400 schools, trained 7,000 teachers and impacted over 500,000 students across India.
About American India Foundation
AIF's mission is to accelerate social and economic change in India. By mobilizing people and resources in the United States, AIF has invested in over 100 Indian non-governmental organizations since its inception in 2001. AIF awards grants to education, livelihood and public health projects in India - with emphases on elementary education, women's empowerment and maternal and child health respectively. AIF also administers two programs: (1) Digital Equalizer, which bridges the "digital divide" by providing computers, Internet access and training in under-resourced schools, and (2) Service Corps, which builds the capacity of Indian NGOs by placing qualified young American professionals for ten-month volunteer assignments. President Bill Clinton serves as Honorary Chair of AIF.
For details contact:
American India Foundation
Nicole Patel 9873496647
Nidhi Raj Kapoor 9810360134