Scrap Cyberage, give Labs: GCCI

pti, panaji | 24 February 2010 20:19 IST

Goa’s apex body of commerce and industry has suggested scrapping of Cyberage Scheme and to replace it with computer labs, particularly in rural areas.

In its pre-budget memorandum submitted to chief minister Digamber Kamat, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) has ruled against continuation of Cyberage scheme, a flagship project by education department.

The scheme provides computers to all the students at nominal price once they enter into higher secondary education.

The scheme conceived and implemented during BJP-led regime is in the controversy after students lamented of poor quality computers supplied to them. The scheme was also on hold for almost one year from 2008-2009 due to paucity of funds.

"Cyberage scheme should be scrapped and instead efforts should be made to set up computer labs, particularly in rural areas, where students from schools should be imparted computer education," GCCI President Cesar Menezes has said.

The chamber has also taken a dig at infrastructure in the government-run scheme terming it `pathetic.' "Infrastructure at all the state-run schools is pathetic. Special budgetary allocations are needed to address these issues urgently," Menezes has said.

GCCI has said: `Goa has got ample scope to emerge as education hub. Private participation in setting up educational institutions should be encouraged by setting up educational estates."

In an important suggestion, the chamber has said education ministry should be renamed as ministry of education, skills and creativity.

"The stress should be on skill development and not mere imparting of education. All the related departments like technical education and craftsman training should be integrated under an educational council," said GCCI.   


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The idea is not entirely good. Think of these laboratories controlled by the government when funds are allocated. They would end up in commissions. Whereas the institutions in private hands encouraged with financial support and help in getting established in rural areas could impart education in IT. It can all be fined tuned to local needs. These would have to be run quite efficiently.

- Ludovico, Olg-Goa | 01 st February 2011 13:27

 

@Smijesh Mohan:

While your idea seems fantastic, the reality is that computers supplied to the HSS's are faulty and break down very often. When a computer crashed (i.e. M/B failure) we had to wait for another PC to break down (which wasn't very long) as calling the technicians for only a single computer was infeasible.

While it may be true that computers supplied under the Cyberage scheme are used for questionable purposes, one must also keep in mind that such the problem here lies in the individual and not applicable to the student community as a whole.

- Paul , D'souza | 31 st January 2011 23:19

 

Setting up cyber labs would be a fantastic idea, wherein students can enroll their self to learn basic computer applications. Our government comes up with lots of schemes for the benefits of public, but they fail to monitor & maintian it.

- smijesh mohan, goa | 25 th February 2010 18:30

 

Here we go again...mixing up all issues and then allowing the government to construe and misconstrue what education in Goa really needs. Years ago at a public meeting held at Menezes Braganza Hall....I had questioned the rationale for distributing computers under the cyberage scheme. My main concerns were:

a) How would the parents (who were either neo-computer literates or computer-illiterate) ever monitor what their children were using computers for?

b) Would it not be more prudent to set up well-equipped computer laboratories in all schools and public libraries with professionally trained teachersinstead? AND

c) Could we not then use the balance funds to educate parents, teachers and others on safety issues concerning internet usage?

College students too are given computers under the same scheme and apart from the dismal quality of these computers....has anyone from the government or otherwise conducted an evaluation of whether this programme has really helped in promoting computer literacy and skills among the children and youth?

I agree that school infrastructure needs urgent correction...especially at the primary level....but then why speak about the "education hub" bit in the same breath?

Educational Estates will not focus on primary education...will it??

Private participation is welcome but we will have to tread on this one cautiously as sometimes we insidiously separate the issue of equal access and inclusion in our so-called pursuit of achieving "excellence".

And, by the way...is skill development not education?

- Anita Haladi, Caranzalem | 25 th February 2010 18:06

 

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