The Kerala experience ‘IT@School Project’

1. Innovations in ICT education The Kerala experience ‘IT@School Project’ presented by M.Sivasankar IAS Secretary, Department of General EducationGovernment of Kerala Dept of General EducationGovt of Kerala www.itschool.gov.in

2. Scenario before year 2000 • No structured form of Computer education in school syllabus • Govt’s initiatives such as CLASS project (Computer Literacy and Studies in Schools) mainly looked at the hardware procurement part only. • Less than 500 computers in 2000-01. • Computer education in schools done by private agencies collecting fees • Instructors from private agencies in schools • No active participation of Teachers • No specific content for Computer Education

3. Scenario before year 2000 • Baseline study conducted by the Govt- appointed Task Force to define the scope of ICT in School Education • It suggested that mere deployment of hardware in schools would not do any good, but Information Technology as part of the School Syllabus was the need of the hour. • It was decided to implement an ICT enabled educational system in a phased manner by holistically integrating the four pillars of ICT ie Capacity Building, Infrastructure deployment, Content Development and E-Governance. • Accordingly introduced Information Technology as part of the State Curriculum.

4. From Computer as a subject to ICT as an enabler • IT introduced as an optional subject for Std 8 in year 2002 on a pilot mode • IT made a compulsory subject in Std 8 the next year. • By 2004, IT made compulsory in Std 9 & 10. • A Bottom – up approach creating demand among students and teachers through IT awareness campaigns • Information Technology has been introduced in Upper Primary classes from the year 2009-10 onwards. • Today there is a practical and theory examination of IT for High School students • IT has become the favorite subject; high percentage of students score in IT, • Active participation of teachers, students and academicians in shaping a ICT enabled learning mechanism.

5. ICT empowerment of Teachers Vs Importing of Specialists • Initially external resources were engaged for trainings, but this proved ineffective as there was lack of ownership and participation of teachers. • The ‘Importing’ of specialists in the form of external instructors in schools created a negative impact among the teaching populace. • Govt formulated key strategy to empower the existing subject teachers themselves as Trainers. • School teachers were selected as Master Trainers and attached to IT@School Project where they were trained in IT & ICT and they in turn trained their colleagues. • The strategy of ‘Teachers within’ proved very effective over the years and still the same model is been followed.

6. Demand and financial resource mobilization at the local level and incentivisation of this process • Demand for hardware created by empowering the school teachers and by conducting campaigns . Selected teachers were trained in IT and ICT. • The Project initially mobilized the required hardware for schools through funds available with LSG institutions, local area development funds of the MPs & MLAs and PTA. • BOOT model which was introduced in hardware deployment to schools was withdrawn due to ineffectiveness. • Careful incentivization; ACA claimed. • Centrally sponsored ‘ICT in School Scheme’ was introduced in year 2007, with 75:25 Pattern. • ICT in School scheme being implemented in the State since then with a total budget of Rs.54.28 Crores each year.

7. Proprietary Vs Free Software • Proprietary software used in schools during the initial phase;Cost considerations on wide roll out. • Restrictions in proprietary software to share content a major limitation in effective ICT sharing process. • Understanding the need as well as benefits of Free Software,the entire activities of the Project was shifted to Free Software platform by 2005. • Free and Open Source Software enabled unrestricted sharing, copying and modifying of educational contents at schools. • The project developed its own Operating System- IT@School GNU/Linux/Ubuntu being used in all schools in the State. The first version developed in 2005. • Today the entire ICT content,academic and e-governance applications of the Project uses FOSS. • Annual savings Rs. 11 Crores.

8. IT@School Edubuntu Operating System

9. Broad supply framework parallel to DGS&D • A systematic and transparent procurement process was introduced for supply of ICT hardware to schools, which included an online requirement form for schools. • KELTRON, identified as the Service Provider for hardware procurement; procurement process through nation-wide tendering • Hardware at rates lower than DGS&D • In 2007, Government issued orders detailing specific guidelines to be followed for procurement of computers to schools using MP/MLA/LSG funds. • Each of the equipments was backed with 3-year warranty, service and after sales support. • Schools provided with most-modern equipments with onsite support for 3 years. Equipments include Laptop, Desktops, Netbooks, Printers, Generators etc

10. Comprehensive intervention for hardware deployment & support • The ICT hardware supplied to schools provided with Insurance Coverage in case of theft of permanent damage. • ‘Hardware Clinic’ programme launched for the maintenance, repair and upgrading of damaged or low configuration computers in schools. • Teachers and students trained in Hardware issues during Hardware Clinics, which boosted their confidence to handle the common technical problems found in school ICT hardware • Use of a toll-free number, call center and web portal to register complaints help the schools in case of major hardware problems. • Unique programme for funding the electrification of Classrooms in government schools. Over 20,000 classrooms electrified, enabling the teachers to bring in laptops,projectors, and even wireless Internet into classrooms.

11. Outsourced content v/s Indigenous Content • The initial period saw tie-ups with private players like INTEL for ICT content. • Most of the content which was available in the market did not match with the curriculum’s requirement; Demand for Indigenous Content development process. • With the shift to Free Software, most of the ICT enabled content is prepared by the teachers, who understand the importance of what needs to be taught, when compared to external resources. • Project customized several FOSS applications to fit in the required formats as demanded by the School Curriculum. • Several FOSS based educational applications were customized. For eg: Dr. Geo and Geogebra for Mathematics, Rasmol, Chemtool and Kalzium for Chemistry, K-tech lab for Physics, Marble, KStars, XrMaps for Geography etc

12. Outsourced content v/s Indigenous Content • Developed interactive multimedia CDs,handbooks and training modules for ICT as well as Text books for IT in standards 5 to 10. • Resource DVD developed for teachers - the first of its kind in the country. • All content developed by the Project is as per the new curriculum approach based on the National Curriculum Framework 2005. • Rolled out key initiatives such as School Wiki- a comprehensive knowledge database of all schools in the state, prepared exclusively in Malayalam • Project has also associated with Intel's 'Skoool' for collaborative content development programmes (http://kerala.skoool.in). • Exclusive Resource Portal for Std X students www.resource.itschool.gov.in. Contents in the portal developed completely by school teachers.

13. Leveraging Satellite and Broadband services • Kerala has set a model for implementing a Satellite based educational system utilizing EDUSAT. • IT@School Project is the nodal agency for EDUSAT operations in the State. Studio complex & 14 EDUSAT Training centers established statewide. • Interactive classroom sessions, facilitated by Receive Only Terminals (ROTs) in schools enables expert – student interaction. • IT@School ViCTERS (Virtual Classroom Technology on Edusat for Rural Schools) educational channel in the State for Students, Teachers and Parents launched in 2006. • VICTERS being telecast for 17 hours with the right mix of entertainment and knowledge/information to children, which include various in-house as well as international programmes. • BBC, Deutsche Welle, NFDC, UGC, Vigyan Prasar, Science and Technology Council, SIET & C-DIT .

14. Leveraging Satellite and Broadband services • All schools have been equipped with Broadband connectivity BSNL; detailed usage norms issued to ensure safe and secure browsing. • Project successfully implemented this scheme in 2008 itself, two years ahead of the planned period. • Broadband connectivity being upgraded to VPN Connectivity this year, which would provide secure high speed internet connectivity and unlimited data sharing between schools without the need to avail normal internet bandwidth.

15. Electronic governance system to ensure efficiency, transparency and accuracy. • Several E-Governance initiatives implemented to ensure systematic, stabilized & automated processes. • Online transfer and posting of teachers, Noon meal distribution computerization, Text Book Intent System, Total Physical Fitness Programme, School Sports Automation software etc are some of the major E-governance initiatives. • The School Sasthrolsavam has recently been fully automated. • SAMPOORNA – the comprehensive database of students & teachers of all schools in the State is being implemented in a meticulous manner. Each student is provided with a Unique Identification Number & the application is being integrated to diverse processes such as Sports & Games

16. Ensures Digital Inclusion • Digital Inclusion ensures differentially abled individuals getting equal access to ICT skills and make beneficial use of technology for the betterment of their lives. • In line with the Digital Inclusion concept, the Project has trained all the Visually challenged teachers in the State in ICT skills. • FOSS based applications like ORCA & Gcompris are being used for training for Visually challenged teachers as well as students with differential capabilities. • GCompris is packed with activities infusing reading, numericals, colours etc along with different games to help students with hearing impaired, visually challenged, orthopedically handicapped etc. • Special modules being developed for IDEC and Hearing impaired students. Parental awareness programmes on ICT was also conducted statewide. • The Project would extend these resources to MHRD so that similar students of other States are also benefitted.

17. Sector specific ICT intervention for Students • Specific ICT trainings provided to Students in areas such as Animation, Hardware, Networking, Website designing etc • Project has trained 14,404 students in Animation Movie Making skills ( ANTS- Animation Training for Students)- largest of its kind in the World. • Customised trainings for Student School IT CO-ordinators and IT Club members to support all ICT initiatives in their schools. • Specific Hardware and Networking trainings being provided to students • Sub-district, district and state level IT Mela for students being conducted and specific IT Awards to schools been given each year.

18. Studies on IT@School Project Impact Studies on IT@School Project were conducted by T.A.Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) Manipal IT for Change, Bangalore in 2010. Both studies revealed that the Project is on the right path for establishing a complete ICT enabled learning system. Extract from the report of TAPMI, Manipal “The first phase of IT@School is a great success. The creation of basic infrastructure in all schools, Training subject teachers to double up as IT teachers, introducing IT as a compulsory subject in all schools as part of the curricula, conducting State-wide examination to assess the knowledge by making IT as one of the subjects in the SSLC examination etc. are indicators of this success.”

19. Studies on IT@School Project (Contd…) Extract from the report of IT for Change, Bangalore “The Kerala model has some important learnings for governments seeking to implement computer education in schools. Some of these are: integration of computer education into the regular system of school education, decentralization of teacher training as well as hardware/software support, and finally the free availability of educational software in local languages, all of which have significant impact on the processes and outcomes of computer learning and computer aided learning in schools. Incorporating some of these principles and features and replacing the dominant BOOT model with an integrated approach to 'ICTs in education' may be essential for such programmes to be meaningful and effective.”

20. Brief summary of IT@School Project • Setup in year 2000; Changed the entire facet of school educational system with the use of ICT. • Vision Document submitted by Task Force headed by Prof.U.R.Rao • World's largest simultaneous deployment of FOSS in Education • Established State Project Office and 14 District Offices / Edusat Training centers; 160 Master Trainers, 5600 School IT Co-ordinators and 28,000 Student School IT Co-ordinators • Emphasis on Capacity Building, Infrastructure upgradation, Content Development, Satellite based learning system and E-Governance. • 12,000 schools, 2 lakh teachers and 50 lakh students benefited • ICT based content prepared by Teachers in free software • Runs ViCTERS- the complete educational channel of Govt of Kerala

21. Overall Strategies Hardware Percolation Theory Vs Part of Curriculum Mode From Computer as a subject to ICT as an enabler ICT empowerment of Teachers Vs Importing of Specialists Demand and financial resource mobilisation at the local level and incentivisation to this process Proprietary Vs Free Software Broad supply framework parallel to DGS&D mechanism Comprehensive intervention for hardware deployment and support Outsourced Content Vs Indigenous Content Leveraging Satellite and Broadband services Electronic governance system to ensure efficiency, transparency and accuracy Ensures Digital Inclusion

23. Recognitions (Contd…) Extract from the comments of Jury of Stockholm Award 2010 “IT@School has a well established management, organization and infrastructure. It has achieved greatly and has had great impact. This project has well organized ICT enabled education by integrating diverse elements such as capacity building, infrastructure, content development, and advanced technologies. It is notable to see a "School WIKI" for sharing knowledge. To improve the intellectual ability of the teachers and comprehension ability of the students is always a difficult task. This on-going award project with 10 years under its belt is no doubt impressive in size. We can appreciate the logistics involved in project with this extension. Soon IT@School will have to confront the challenge of renewing itself. We are certain they will be up to the challenge, given IT@School achievements so far. “

24. Thank You, M.Sivasankar IAS Secretary, Department of General EducationGovernment of Kerala Phone:0471-2333701 Email: secy@education.kerala.gov.in