Free tablets for students of class 8 to 12 studying in government schools in Kiphire

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 3 (EMN): Advisor for School Education, KT Sukhalu on Thursday virtually launched tablets with preloaded learning materials for class 8 to 12 students studying in government schools in aspirational district Kiphire.

While launching the programme, which was initiated by the Nagaland Education Mission Society (NEMS) Samagra Shiksha, the School Education advisor informed that the state government would pursue with the Centre for extending such facilities to the remaining districts in phase-wise manner.

He sought co-operation from teachers and parents for the success of the project.

Sukhalu further informed that his department was trying its best to reach out to students and make learning materials available on various social media platforms as much as possible.

He sought concerted efforts from all to ensure that students get education during the pandemic and added that the ‘sacrifices made today would bear results tomorrow’.

State Mission Director of NEMS, Temsunaro Aier informed that the SSA with the help of the Ministry of Human Resource Development had taken the initiative to prevent further loss of learning among students in the Covid pandemic situation.

‘State government will distribute free tablets to students of classes 8 to 12 who are currently pursuing their studies in government schools in Kiphire district,’ she informed.

Giving further information about the tablet, Aier said that it is easy to operate and would enable students to view high quality lessons anytime they want. The tablets would be distributed in two phases- students of classes 8 to 10 numbering 1097 in the first phase, which will be distributed immediately, classes 11 and 12 students will get the gadget in a few weeks’ time as per the enrolment of 2021-22, she informed.

The officer added that prior to distribution of tablets to students, subject teachers would be oriented through virtual mode with the support of Bright TUTEE officials, New Delhi on features of the gadget and detailed preloaded learning content, which will guide the students.

The tablet for the district has been introduced to improve better learning outcomes of students, retention rate and enrolment of students in government schools and to reduce dropout rates, she said.

Director for the Ministry of Human Resource Development, PP Gupta said that due to the pandemic, students could not access classroom education directly from teachers. However, he expressed optimism that the tablets, which have come with pre-loaded content, would help the students of Nagaland immensely.

With no requirement of SIM card or internet connection, the gadget is loaded with video lessons as per NBSE text books of five subjects — Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English and Alternative English — for classes 8 to 10 and five other subjects — History, Political Science, English, Education and Sociology — for classes 11 and 12.

The content in the tablets has been examined and approved by the subject experts of Nagaland Board of School Education.